Golf Course in Pangasinan, Philippine Islands
What appears to be a good intention of the provincial government in developing an idle 264-hectare land in the shoreline of Lingayen into an eco-tourism zone is being snagged by “noise” coming from some people who view the project as nothing but a development in reverse.
It was learned that a complaint has already been filed against some provincial officials led by Governor Amado Espino Jr. in addition to an impending probe by the Committee on Environment in the House of Representatives based on allegations of some residents that what the provincial government is doing is not actually golf course development but mining operation to extract magnetite or black sand from the area.
The other respondents, reports said, are Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan, Mayor Ernesto Castaneda of Lingayen, Alvin Bigay, provincial housing and development officer; and others.
Rubbing salt to the injury, those opposing the project vowed to gather en masse on Feb. 9 to hold a prayer rally in front of the processing plant for magnetite sand in their desire to focus to the attention of the whole nation that there is an ongoing mining activity in the area, contrary to consistent claim of the provincial government that they are only building a golf course.
Meanwhile, the provincial government continues to deny the existence of magnetite mining activity in the reserved area of Lingayen in Barangays Estanza, Sabangan, Capandanan and Malimpuec.