Naga wants quarry firm inspected

CEBU, Philippines - For fear of landslides, the City of Naga has asked the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) to inspect quarrying operations inside the compound of Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) in barangay Pangdan.

"May we request your team of experts to conduct an on-site inspection the soonest time possible considering the continuous rains nowadays may loosen the soil and cause landslides in the area," read a portion of the letter signed by Mayor Valdemar Chiong.

The letter dated August 23, 2011 was addressed to MGB regional director Loreto Alburo.

"It has come to our attention that the manner the APO Land and Quarry Corp. carry out its mining and quarry activity has reportedly posed risks to nearby residents," said Chiong.

The mayor fears that the students of Pangdan National High School, which is just a stone's throw away from the quarry site, may be "gravely" endangered if something goes awry as a result of the venture.

City Administrator Engr. Arthur Villamor said that Apo Land is permitted to do quarrying operations by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7.

But what the city wants to know if the company's operations are still in line with its environmental compliance certificate (ECC).

Villamor, who has surveyed the site, said the big hole created by Apo Land may cave in anytime especially that the soil is unstable due to the regular rains.

And if this happens, it may affect the nearby school, he said.

The city government now "hopes" for "prompt action" and appropriate and necessary measures be undertaken soon to prevent any untoward incident and loss of lives."