Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima is challenging the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to lay down its cards on the issue of black sand mining, which she has described as "disastrous" to the environment.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi pa rin yan humihinto. I'm even challenging the DENR, na ano ba yung nagiging posisyon nila dito? (I dont know why that has yet to be stopped. I'm even challenging the DENR, what is your position on this?)" De Lima, a member of the House minority bloc, told reporters

"Are they being proactive enough para i-oppose, kontrahin yung mga ganyan, yung mga black sand mining sa Zamabales, sa Ilocos, sa Cagayan? (Are they being proactive enough to oppose, to block those activities, particularly the black sand mining in Zambales, Ilocos, and Cagayan?)" she asked.

De Lima jad earlier filed in the current 20th Congress House Bill (HB) No.1843, also known as the proposed Anti-Black Sand Mining Act.

"I'm really against black sand mining. Because of its disastrous effects niya sa kalikasan (to the environment). Tsaka yung mga kumunidad mismo kung saan nandyan yung mga prevalent na black sand, sila na mismo ang umaangal," she said.

(The ones complaining are the coimmunities itself where black sand is prevalent.)

Beyond the environmental concerns, the former senator also pointed out reports the harvested black sand isn't being used for the benefit of Filipinos.

"Yung black sand mining, saan napupunta?...Hindi naman tayo ang nakikinabang. Kasi importante daw yan sa production of metals, etc. So hindi sa atin, so saan? At ang mga lumalabas na reports especially from LGUs, ang China ang nakikinabang.

(The harvested black sand, where does it go?...we're not the ones benefiting from it. They say its important in the production of metals, etc. So if not us, where does it go to? The reports coming out especially from local government units is that China is benefitting from it.)

"So why are we tolerating that?" asked De Lima.

Black sand is an important mineral that keeps sand particles heavier and more compressed, thus serving as a natural barrier of land surfaces and fresh water deposits from seawater and ensures that seawater is at a level lower than land surface area.

It is used as an additive in the manufacture of concrete and steel products, magnets, paints, ink, paper, jewelry and cosmetics.

Amid the lack of a clear government stance on black sand mining, De Lima said non-governmental organizations have taken it upon themselves to speak to policymakers about their opposition to this activity.

Last Sept. 8, Progressive fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) met with the ML solon to present case studies and testimonies on the “socio-economic and environmental” impacts of dredging in coastal communities.

“We have turned over to ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima a set of video testimonies from small fishers in Cagayan, detailing the negative impacts of Chinese-led dredging and black sand mining activities along the Cagayan River and Zambales,” Pamalakaya Chairman Fernando Hicap said in a statement.

“The said testimonies show how large-scale dredging operations, facilitated by Chinese firms, have displaced fishers from their traditional fishing grounds, caused massive siltation, and worsened the destruction of aquatic habitats,” added the former Anakpawis Party-list congressman.

To this, De Lima said: "I assured that group who visited me na ipu-push ko talaga yung (that I would really push for the) Anti-Black Sand Mining Bill."