PENRO: No irregularity in Lacion quarry

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Cebu conducted a site inspection and monitoring in Consolacion to verify alleged illegal quarrying operations carried out by the town mayor himself, but did not find any irregularity.

A PENRO official said that they spotted two empty trucks on standby yesterday in barangay Garing where they installed a checkpoint, but no operations were going on aside from some individual quarry operators who were able to present pertinent documents.

PENRO said that they could not apprehend basing only on reports and complaints of residents; the accused has to be caught in the act.

The office, however, confirmed that proven the reports are true, Mayor Avelino Gungob may be held liable since they have not issued any permit to the local government unit of Consolacion to extract quarry materials in barangay Panoypoy and other areas in the said town.

Even the gratuitous permit being applied by Gungob for his “government center project” is still pending for issuance because the LGU until now has not completed many of the requirements yet, according to PENRO.

The local environment office clarified that permits to quarry in Consolacion issued by them are for individual quarry operators only.

PENRO installed the checkpoint in Garing two days ago following the reported heated argument between Gungob and a barangay captain who told the latter to stop the illegal hauling in Panoypoy because of the lack of permits.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said that Gungob’s illegal operation is being monitored ever since he started his road widening project and government center, from which, he has earned many cease and desist orders.

PENRO said that during the latest Provincial Mining Regulatory Board hearing, MGB has recommended for the filing of an administrative case. PENRO also has submitted many recommendations for legal suit against Consolacion officials responsible for illegal quarrying, but the Ombudsman has not acted on the matter yet. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV  (THE FREEMAN)