Thursday, April 03, 2008
Southern town picks dolomite as Otop
ALCOY town in southeastern Cebu is the world’s biggest producer of dolomite, according to its mayor.
In a video produced by the Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office to promote products and services of local government units under the One Town, One Product project, Alcoy Mayor Nick de los Santos said Alcoy boasts of “the world’s biggest dolomite mining as of today.”
He said he had been told that if Alcoy stops mining the dolomite today, “in a few weeks’ or months’ time, 10-20 percent of Japanese cars will have no windshields.”
Dolomite, a light colored mineral consisting of calcium magnesium carbonate, is a raw material used for steel, glass, paint, rubber and other construction materials. Along with sand, soda ash and limestone, it is a major ingredient of modern glass used in windshields.
De los Santos said dolomite has higher bonding properties than sand and gravel.
Antonio Plando, Alcoy vice mayor, added that dolomite is now being used as a soil conditioner in Mindanao plantations, as well as sand substitute to enhance beaches. (CTL)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 3, 2008 issue)
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