MANILA - A bill prohibiting the exportation of black sand and its derivatives in its raw form to other countries hurdled committee level at the House of Representatives. In an online meeting on Wednesday, the House Committee on Natural Resources, chaired by Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. approved the substitute bill to House Bill 6321 or the proposed Black Sand Processing Act. Under the bill, black sand mining or trading entities may only export processed products or raw materials that have undergone advanced processing. Probinsyano Ako party-list Rep. Jose Singson Jr., author of the bill, said the Philippines is one of the major sources of black sand, which is being exported to other countries in its raw form. Singson noted that the many industrial uses for the materials produced from black sand mining results in a massive international demand, which in turn results into high profits for those engaged in black sand mining. He said the importation of these processed products are very