Talisay dad urges DENR to probe mining operations

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City opposition Councilor Valeriano “Val” Ylanan wants the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to investigate an ongoing quarrying along Lagtang and Jaclupan Road. 

This after the city council approved three applications for small scale quarry permits in Lagtang despite calls to temporarily ban small-scale mining for fear of landslides. 

Ylanan, in an interview with The Freeman, said he will file a resolution to ask the MGB-DENR to review and assess the quarry operations.

“The mining along Lagtang and Jaclupan road is prone to soil erosion and landslide which put the community dwellers nearby at risk and in danger,” Ylanan said. 

Ylanan added that MGB-DENR Region VII should implement their policies, laws, rules and regulations pertaining to quarry environmental protection and provide preventive measures, on day-to-day quarry operation. 

Based on the 2009 geohazard assessment conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Lagtang and other mountain barangays in Talisay are vulnerable to landslides and flashfloods.

The MGB has intensified its geohazard assessment and the densification project to come up with geohazard maps using a scale of 1:10,000 to magnify critical areas. 

The studies show that at least 19 of 80 barangays in Cebu City and 133 barangays in the province are highly vulnerable to these natural calamities.

Of the 133 barangays in Cebu province, Toledo City had the most number of barangays at 38, followed by Naga City with 28, Pinamungajan with 26, Talisay City with 22 and Minglanilla with 19. 

The maps which use a scale of 1:10,000 provide detailed data on locations in the barangay level, making them useful for community-based disaster risk reduction management planning.

The new geohazard maps aim to assess the floodplains and lowlands that are vulnerable to landslides brought about by above-normal rainfall during storms, said Emir Berador, chief geologist of MGB.

He said earlier geohazard maps with a 1:50,000 scale only show details of the municipalities or cities.

The MGB continues to do ground verification as part of ongoing research of geohazards in all barangays.

He said this exercise will be finished by 2014.

As part of the disaster risk reduction management program, barangays are expected to use geohazard maps to plan and prepare for calamities.  - THE FREEMAN