Mayor Gina Montilla Lizares assured that a barge spotted in Sipalay City waters was not carrying white sand extracted from local beaches.
The Sipalay government does not allow the extraction of white sand from the city’s beaches, “it will not happen under my watch”, Lizares said on Monday, February 21, after residents spotted a barge carrying what looked like white sand.
She said the barge that was suspected to be carrying white sand came from Bohol and sheltered at Campomanes Bay in Sipalay City when it developed engine trouble on Friday, February 18.
The Philippines Coast Guard reported that the barge named “Big Boy” was carrying hydrated lime from Bohol and was headed for Rio Tuba, Palawan, when it sheltered at Campomanes Bay, Sipalay City disaster head, Danilo Bogtae, said.*