MACARTHUR, Leyte – Hundreds of people are protesting the impending operation of a giant cutter suction dredger for black sand mining here.

“This is a symbol of our united call for the government to take our side against mining. This is not a political call but a campaign because we are one of the biggest suppliers of rice not only to neighboring towns but also to other provinces. We do not want to import rice because of what they are doing to us,” said Jesus Cabias Jr., an organizer of a prayer vigil in Barangay Maya here, on Saturday.

Cabias recalled they managed to stop black sand mining in 2012 through a six-month protest.

However, they were surprised that the government recently allowed it to resume in their municipality.

“They promised that there would be responsible mining. Our barangay chair, who serves as an agent in acquiring properties for the mining company, assured us that every hectare of land mined will be rehabilitated. But as farmers, we call on them to fulfill that promise,” Cabias said.

Farmers claimed that some lands rented by a mining company remain unrehabilitated, leaving huge holes that have turned their farms into ponds. Others said it has left their farms barren.

Mayor Rudin Babante here said that he granted a business permit to the mining firm and not object to mining because it has complied with all necessary documents.

“There is no approval from me but from the national agency,” he said, adding that those who oppose mining should not have sold their lands in the first place. “I do not want to be suspended because of the desires of some people. We have laws to follow,” he said.

He also called for responsible mining but admitted that he does not visit the mining area because it is private property.

While farmers acknowledge that the land is private, Cabias said the mining firm fell short when it failed to rehabilitate previously mined areas and lacked monitoring mechanisms.

Cabias said they will submit over 1,000 signatures asking the government to investigate the mining firm on Monday, Feb. 9.

Residents wrote an open letter to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. protesting black sand mining.

They urged Marcos to issue an executive order stopping mining operations in this town.