CAOAYAN, Ilocos Sur — Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) denied yesterday that there was an operation of black sand mining off the coastal waters here, contrary to the allegation being floated by Vigan City Mayor Bonito Singson.

“All members of my family will resign en mass from their government positions if someone could prove that we are engage in black sand mining,” pointed out Chavit Singson in an exclusive interview by this writer.

Chavit Singson said that those floating news that he has something to do with the illegal black sand mining in Caoayan town has no proof but an accusation against him to destroy his reputation as a political leader in Ilocos Sur.

Singson clarified, however, that there was an ongoing dredging along the shallow waters of Caoayan town for the benefit of the people here.

“For quite long time, there had been no dredging of the shallow coastal areas of this town that is why we initiated the dredging of the shallow portion of waters to prevent flash floods in several barangays of Caoayan and Vigan,” he said. 

“In fact,” Singson pointed out, “the provincial government is not paying a single centavo on the operations of dredging; we should be thankful to the dredgers because they are not charging us.” In return, the operators of dredging carry their dredged sand as their compensation and deliver it to a reclamation project in Pasay City,” Singson added.