THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) clarified on Friday that no active black sand mining activities have occurred in the province of San Antonio, Zambales, in recent months.
PCG Commander Euphraim Jayson Diciano, chief of the Zambales PCG station, reported this finding after receiving instructions for their substation to investigate the claims thoroughly.
Earlier, on Tuesday, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, stated that the Navy was closely monitoring allegations of black sand mining in Zambales. These activities were reportedly linked to suspicions of sand being transported to and dumped in the WPS for military purposes.
Commander Diciano, however, asserted that all 12 substations under his jurisdiction reported no evidence of such activities based on information gathered from local sources and site inspections.
Diciano acknowledged the existence of dredging operations in the province, which might result in a small percentage of black sand being collected. This sand is typically used for reclamation projects in areas such as Pasay City or Bulacan, but not for activities in the WPS.
He emphasized that dredger vessels operating in the province are required to have all the necessary permits and documents before engaging in any economic activity. “These vessels will not dare operate without complete authorization,” Diciano stated.
He added that while the PCG ensures compliance with documentation requirements, it lacks the authority to deny entry to vessels with complete permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other regulatory agencies.