Use of backhoes in quarrying banned

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol has prohibited the use of backhoe in river quarrying in Cebu.

The Provincial Board has passed Monday a resolution authored by third district Board Member Alex Binghay on the ban.

“The indiscriminate use of backhoe equipment along the river bed will cause degradation of rivers resulting to its deepening and the enlargement of river mouths,” reads the resolution.

Binghay cited Sapangdaku River in Toledo City where deep excavation on river beds was formed with the use of backhoe, causing some sections of the riverbank to be deep and shallow at some parts, resulting to uneven elevations.

“With the impending threats that the damaged river beds may cause to the constituents of the province, it is but crucial that the use of backhoe equipment in quarrying of rivers be prohibited,” further reads the resolution.

Third district PB Member Grecilda Sanchez said she also saw the extent of the damage illegal quarrying has brought specifically within the river banks in Toledo City.

Sanchez said they are afraid that eventually, if left unchecked, this will lead to flooding in the area and might cause deaths.

“It has already caused several footbridge and spillway to collapse. It is also perhaps the reason Toledo City Council opted for a moratorium of quarrying within the river banks,” she told The Freeman.

The City Council last year passed a resolution for the immediate stopping of all sand and gravel quarrying operations in the entire Sapangdaku River for the next five years, saying that the activity has greatly damaged the river, riverbed, and riverbanks.

“If there is moratorium of operations within the river banks, it is just logical that there should be no backhoes or even perhaps batching plants within the river banks,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez added that Binghay’s resolution will pave the way for an ordinance after proper consultation and public hearing.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Czareem Joseph Estella welcomed the move of the PB.

“Nindot kaayo ang ilahang wisdom kay usa na siya sa pag-control sa damage sa kasapaan kay acknoweldged man ‘na nga ang backhoe destructive g’yud sa atoang kasapaan kay lawom man g’yud kaayo ang iyang abot,” Estella said.

Estella said he is sending letters to the operators as the resolution took effect immediately.

“Hopefully makasabot sila kay ang tumong ug tinguha nato nga pagbalanse ra man gyud sa environmental protection ug sa development. Di man sad pwede did-an sa pag-negosyo kay patay sad ang atong development,” he said.

Estella earlier recommended the suspension of the issuance of sand and gravel quarry permits in the entire stretch of Sapangdaku River in Toledo City following the clamor of some environmental groups advocating environment protection in Cebu. — (FREEMAN)