Amidst quarry issue, give us income, Captain asks city

CEBU, Philippines - The captain of Bonbon, a mountain barangay in Cebu City, is asking the city government to provide livelihood to the residents there so they will not be tempted to extract sand and gravel illegally.

Barangay Captain Eduardo Cabriana said his constituents would still risk extracting sand and gravel illegally because they do not have any other means of earning income.

“Maong ni-anhi gyud ko ni Vice (Edgardo Labella) para patabang pod mi kon unsaon namo pagtabang ang mga residente didto nga wala gyuy laing means of livelihood kay wala gyod ni silay laing panginabuhian, maong naahat sila ana para mabuhi ilang pamilya,” he said.

Cabriana visited Labella’s office yesterday in response to the vice mayor’s request for him to help investigate the rampant illegal quarry operations in the barangay.

Labella wanted the illegal operations stopped since it threatens the structural integrity of the newly operational bridge there, which has cost the city P13 million to construct.

Cabriana admitted that even the barangay once extracted sand from the river for its projects but belied reports he is making money out of it.

“Ako, nakakuha gyud ko diha kay para sa project sa barangay kay kon dili ta diha mokuha, asa man kuhaon ang bas?” he said.

Labella emphasized that project contractors should be responsible for the materials needed for construction.

“Ang mga contractor tambagan pud nato nga dili gyud diha mokuha kay trabaho mana nila,” the vice mayor said.

Cabriana said it would be easy to address the problem if the city government will assist the barangay in providing livelihood to residents there.

“Naa poy laing barangays nga nagsalig sa Bonbon nga sapa ang barangays Babag, Pung-ol Sibugay, Malubog, Taptap, Sirao, Sudlon. Kun hunongon diha, ang mga projects sa government maapektohan gyud,” he said.  – (FREEMAN)