Fernandez asks PENRO to suspend quarry permits

CEBU, Philippines - In view of the onset of the rainy season, Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernadez is seeking the temporary suspension of permits for quarrying granted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro).

In his letter to Penro officer-in-charge Nerces Bispo, the mayor has asked for a list of all permitees within the last three years that were cleared for quarrying.

“We would like to clarify also if these quarries were able to secure the requirements from the city government,” Fernandez said.

Fernandez said past incidents indicate that quarries may have been lax in their own mitigating measures to prevent flooding and landslides caused by the heavy rains.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources cited the danger of quarries.

Dr. Eduardo Llamedo, spokesperson of DENR, said quarries can often affect the landslide occurrence and it can trigger landslides and would not be allowed in nearby communities.

Llamedo said quarrying wouldn’t be allowed on vertical slopes or places where there are vertical cracks in the soil. The proposal would need an operational plan.

MGB geo-hazard mapping in 2009 identified that all mountain barangays in Talisay City are prone to landslide.

Talisay City Vice Mayor Alan Bucao, the city council presiding officer, also wants the quarry operation in the city to stop.

Bucao also said some quarry operators work even without clearance or approval from the city.

–  (FREEMAN)