Argao limestone quarry Garcia suspends permit after landslide incident

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has indefinitely suspended the quarry permit of Rogelio Fuentes in Calagasan, Argao after a landslide occurred last week trapping two workers for almost 12 hours.

The suspension was based on the irregularities in the quarry operations as observed by the joint investigation conducted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office field team and the personnel from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7.

Observations include lack of necessary protective measures to prevent landslide and slope failures especially during heavy downpour and presence of the over-hanged heavy boulders in the area which would sooner or later drop from its present position that may be brought by saturation of rainwater.

Another observation was the presence of a tunnel or an “adit” appeared to have been used by workers in the quarry site is unsafe for quarry and is not allowed in the permit and in the Environmental Compliance Certificate issued to the permit holder.

Based on the said observation, MGB personnel and PENRO field team in its investigation report day after the incident recommended for the suspension of the Quarry Permit issued to Fuentes.

“There is a need to restrain the quarry operations of Mr. Fuentes in Calagasan, Argao, Cebu, in order to address the aforementioned negative observations and to immediately implement the necessary corrective measures,” said the Administrative Order No. 14 issued by Garcia yesterday.

The Provincial Government of Cebu issued on January 17, 2011 a one year quarry permit to Fuentes for the extraction of limestone minerals (pastor stone for stonecraft) in the said place. – (FREEMAN)