ILOCANDIA RUMBLINGS

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor” - Anglican Archbishop Desmund Tutu - From reef to ridge and for many years, the people of Ilocos suffered from the ill effects of mining. Decades of magnetite extraction along the shorelines caused massive erosion in the provinces of La Union and Ilocos Sur. Waste from upland mining operations, especially in the Cordilleras, polluted rivers and streams. We do not need to go far to concretized these claims. The gradual death of the Abra River because of mining pollution primarily caused by the operations of Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company for more than eight decades is a glaring illustration. Fast receding shoreline in Metro Vigan are distressing, dangerous and haunting legacy of magnetite extraction and the politicians who promoted and condoned the illegal and plunderous operations. Secretary Regina Lopez’s effort to clamp down on destructive mines continues to fall into nau

The Failure of Republic Acts 7171 and 8240 First of three parts The eyes and ears of almost every households in Ilocos Norte are set on the unfolding face-off between two political families in the province – the Marcoses and Fariñases. The battle for public opinion centers on the alleged misuse of P66.45 million from theprovince’s share of the Republic Act 7171 funds by Governor Imee Marcos. However, this is not the first time that allegation of misuse and corruption of the fund derived from the government’s tobacco excise tax collection hogged the national media and Congress. During the impeachment proceedings against former president Joseph Estrada, state witness and then Ilocos Sur governor Luis“Chavit” Singson claimed that he let Estrada pocket P130 million from theprovince’s share of the fund. GREEN GOLD. Tobacco, the main cash crop in Ilocos also provides a hefty income for local government from the 15% share of tobacco-producing provinces provided under Republic Ac