Public opposition halts black sand mining in Leyte

MACARTHUR, Leyte—The cutter suction dredger MV Li Long, which would have been used to extract magnetite ore, was only about 20 meters from the national highway after a dramatic voyage across Philippine seas when residents of MacArthur town and nearby municipalities blocked its way with GI sheets and a human chain as it slowly inched toward the mining site in Maya village.

Since Monday, the enormous Chinese-owned vessel has not moved as protests over the impending full mining operation in this coastal town intensified, prompting other local government units in affected municipalities to speak against it.

Built in 1970 in Japan, MV Li Long was originally classified as a general cargo or dry bulk vessel. It has been heavily modified for specialized industrial roles, and now operates as a cutter suction dredger under the flag of China.

While on its way to Leyte on 31 December 2025, a marine patrol of the Southern Luzon Command and the Philippine Air Force intercepted MV Li Long as part of coordinated maritime domain awareness and archipelagic defense efforts by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On Thursday, the MacArthur Iron Project Corporation (MIPC), the company contracted to conduct the mining operation, said in a statement that it will withdraw the cutter suction dredger “in the interest of maintaining harmony and preventing further escalation.”

MIPC said the decision to use a cutter suction dredger in its extraction of magnetite was made after “comprehensive engineering studies and technical evaluations confirmed that it is efficient, and environmentally sound.”

MIPC operates the mine through Strong Built (Mining) and Development Corporation, which was awarded a 25-year Mineral Production Sharing Agreement on 2 July 2007 to extract magnetite sand over 7,411.5560 hectares of land and municipal waters in the contiguous towns of MacArthur, Dulag, Mayorga, Javier, and Abuyog in Leyte. The mining contract ends on 28 July 2032.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau estimates that the iron mineral deposits covered by the MPSA total over 220 million Dry Metric Tons (DMT).

Economic boost

The mining company promises economic growth, job generation, and thorough rehabilitation of mined areas when it is allowed to operate fully.

“The MacArthur black sand mining project is expected to serve as a significant catalyst for economic growth and nation-building,” the company stated.

It said that the thousands of direct and indirect jobs the mining would generate can stimulate household incomes, energize local business, and attract new investments across the value chain.

MIPC added that its projected annual contributions of over P100 million in mineral resource taxes and regulatory fees will strengthen government revenues and help fund priority programs in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and rural development — key drivers of economic growth.

The company also promised to restore mined-out areas to full cultivation and return the land to the owners. MIPC said it has posted a rehabilitation bond of P56 million with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau to ensure proper restoration of these areas.