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Friday, March 29, 2024

It’s not too late

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“Congress and its leaders must show some political will.”

 

The House of Representatives yesterday held its last session for 2021 and will not be back until January 17 next year. But thankfully, one of Probinsyano Ako Rep. Jose “Bonito” Singson’s pet bills, House Bill 6321 or the “Black Sand Processing Act of 2020” was able to hurdle past the committee level last month.

If enacted into law, Singson says the measure will put an end to the country’s “generosity” to other countries that have been mining black sand from various parts of the Philippines, process the raw form of the substance in their countries then import the finished products back then return the finished product to Manila.

Aside from prohibiting exportation of raw black sand, HB 6321 also requires mining and trading companies to bring mined black sand and derivatives in raw form for initial or advanced processing in domestic processing facilities.

With no end in sight yet for the pandemic, Singson said: “Let us stop being generous to other countries by allowing them to exploit our natural resources while we get scraps in return.”

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Singson who filed the bill early last year called for the prohibition of the exportation of black sand in its raw form and to require firms involved in black sand mining either “individually or collectively, to institute, build, or lease advanced processing plants for magnetite within the province where they are conducting actual mining operations.”

The proposed bill however allows exportation of the mineral only after the magnetite or its derivatives have been processed locally.

“Dead and dying businesses have to be revived to provide jobs for the growing number of Filipinos who have been rendered jobless as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The multi-billion dollar local black sand industry could provide the answer to these grave problems,” he said.

If left unregulated, the solon fears black sand mining might cause erosion which could trigger floods, a rise in sea level and other geohazards.

Singson has all the reasons to be apprehensive. Black sand mining operations on a massive scale, conducted by foreign firms have been going on for years now in various localities in Regions I and II and in the Visayas.

And securing a permit for black sand mining, while playing a crucial role in geological balance, is as simple as reciting a nursery rhyme as black sand mining operations by foreign or local firms require only a mayor’s permit from the local government unit concerned. Thus, unrestrained exploitation is practically allowed.

Unfortunately, it seems the other members of Congress, particularly its leaders, do not share Singon’s sentiments. After the bill was passed on the committee level, the measure has yet to be submitted for amendments to the plenary, have it approved on second reading, then print the final version for distribution for approval on third reading.

And since from what I’ve heard there is no Senate counterpart for Singson’s bill, they have yet to find someone willing in the Upper Chamber to sponsor the Senate version once the bill is transmitted.

There, the Senate version will undergo the same process as it had in the House of Representatives, after which a bicameral session will be called for to reconcile whatever differences there might be between the two versions, before it is submitted back to each House for approval.

Thereafter, the approved bill, which is then referred to as an enrolled bill, will be printed and certified correct by the Secretary of the Senate and Secretary General of the House and then submitted to the President for signature.

Still a long process to go. And with the election fever fast catching up with the lawmakers, the possibility of the Singson’s bill getting past those tedious processes looks nil as on February 8, the campaign for national position officially commences.

And when these legislators return in May, they will then be busy as they perform their duties for the congressional canvass for the presidential and vice presidential votes.

So, what then happens to Black Sand Processing Act of 2020? Definitely dead if the lawmakers fail or refuse to act on it.

And it is precisely for that reason Singson is asking the House leadership to prioritize his bill or maybe even the President to certify it as urgent. It is a landmark bill, it is timely, it has all the ingredients to make it a priority measure. Otherwise, it will go the route of other bills including the Media Welfare Act and the Philippine Responsible Driving and Accountability Act, which, despite their importance and relevance, have yet to be acted upon by Congress.

It’s not too late though. If only Congress and its leaders will exert some political will.

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