By Estanislao Albano, Jr.
It was only during the committee hearing conducted by Committee on Environmental Protection, Natural Resources and Energy of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan chaired by SP Member Frederick Pangsiw on September 13 that I was able to catch up on what the local government units are doing regarding the issue of the continuous transport of boulders from the Chico River to Cagayan. Let me share some snatches from the hearing:
When I arrived, Richard Daliyong of the Provincial Treasury Office (PTO) was speaking about the shortage of manpower in the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and the PTO to conduct 24/7 monitoring of quarry activities. There is also the problem of equipment and funds. He said that the solution is the composition of a composite monitoring task force complete with funds. SP Member Danzel Langkit responded that in that case, they should recommend for more permanent items because the job of collecting revenues cannot be entrusted to job orders. Roderick Dumallig, the lone critic of the boulder traffic who appeared during the public hearing, commented that the matter of stopping the hauling is really very simple: involve the police.
Daliyong revealed that from January to September this year, the Kalinga LGU collected some P5.6M income with P1.7M accruing to the LGU representing its 30 percent share of the revenue.
But when Dumallig would later ask the specific amount coming from the trade of Chico River boulders to Cagayan, Daliyong gave the rate P25.00 per cubic meter but could not give a specific amount how much the province is getting from the traffic on monthly basis.
Asked by Langkit if they were ordered to violate Resolution No. 2017-051 which directed the immediate stoppage of the hauling of boulders to outside the province, Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dominic Jude Sugguiyao answered that a mere resolution does not prevail over the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 which states that any citizen could quarry provided he pays the corresponding fees and taxes. He also questioned the basis of premise in the resolution about irresponsible quarrying because the activities in the quarry area investigated were all in aid of desilting and dredging unless the committee visited other quarry sites.
When Dumallig asked Sugguiyao if what he was trying to say is that the resolution has no legal basis, the latter qualified that his statement was an opinion.
In reaction to the citation of Sugguiyao of the Philippine Mining Act, SP member Lester Lee Tarnate commented that even if quarrying is covered by national laws, local governments should see that the activity be done responsibly. He then related that as a barangay captain, he was a personal witness that back in the 90s, the Chico River was flowing properly. But later when quarrying started in the Dagupan Weste and Cabaritan area and the extractors left their waste in the middle of the river bed, that’s when the water course widened, a phenomenon which continues to this day.
SP Member Emilio Kitongan also commented that the SP can pass legislations against irresponsible quarrying.
SP Member Eduardo Sarol reminded his colleagues that the subject of the meeting is the passage of a resolution directing the DPWH to expedite the staking of the 300-meter wide track of the proposed megadike. He said that if this is done, then the problem of the people will be addressed because the quarrying will only be done within the path of the proposed megadike.
Kitongan expressed the opinion that the permanent solution to the problem is to fast track the enactment of the ordinance regulating quarrying. He said that the SP is not against quarrying provided that it is done responsibly. Langkit then moved that pending the passage of the ordinance and the submission of the position of the executive department on the resolution balancing the clamor of the public and the interest of the business sector, the resolution should stand. He would later withdraw the motion on the ground that it’s redundant.
Regarding reactions to the issue in the social media, Sugguiyao said that a lot of the comments are unfounded and sweeping which only manifest the ignorance of the speakers. He cited the case of the claim that boulders in the Chico River will run out which he said would never happen because each time the river swells, these are replenished. He also alleged that the riverbed is now higher than the ricefields in places like barangay Cawagayan, Pinukpuk and that these should be removed otherwise they will cause flooding.
Dumallig responded to the comment of Sugguiyao saying that adverse comments from the public should be taken as constructive criticism. He said that the LGUs should get their fair share from the trade of boulders, traffic safety and the proper care of roads and bridges should be considered even as he cited the case of the Aliog Bridge which has 15-ton load capacity. He said that the public is not contesting responsible quarrying.
Who among the participants of the hearing and other players in the issue of the hauling of boulders to Cagayan has the interest of the people specially those whose lives are being or will be impacted by the activity will be manifest sooner or later. **
