Quarrying, mining in Cordova, Lapu-Lapu to be investigated

A Provincial Board member has vowed to look into the reports of unabated quarrying of Mactan stones and the pending application of a private company to explore mineral products at Cordova town and Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island.

PB member Luis Gabriel Quisumbing said he would examine the complaints of town residents and verify what actions the government agencies have undertaken on the matter.

Quisumbing also said Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova town should be developed instead for tourism-related activities and light industries, so it is necessary to scrutinize other undertakings that might threaten the environment and the residents of the places.

Kimhee Realty Corporation had applied for an exploration permit at barangays Day-as and Buagsong in Cordova to determine the quality and volume of limestone and other resources there that may be suited for construction and industrial uses.

The target areas for the proposed exploration reportedly covered 709.7 hectares, but town officials suspected that it is more than that and included portions of Lapu-Lapu City, as shown in the map the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has provided.

Cordova town officials and non-governmental organizations jointly opposed Kimhee's application contending that the explorations alone would direly affect the environment and threaten the health and safety of residents.

Quisumbing said he already started gathering documents related to Kimhee's application to help him evaluate the matter and act accordingly.

On Mactan stones, provincial environment officer Glenn Baricuatro said he was informed of rampant extractions of these materials in Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova, so he will call on the Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau to investigate this.

Before any company could start mining explorations or quarrying in an area, it should first secure from the DENR an environmental compliance certificate, said Baricuatro.

MGB-DENR regional director Roger De Dios said the provincial environment and natural resources office is tasked to monitor small quarry operations.

He said the MGB's concerns are those large-scale quarry operations but, even then, he assured that the exploration application of Kimhee will be thoroughly scrutinized. -Jose P. Sollano