Bontoc, Mtn. Province – With the continued quarrying being done along the Chico river banks, a non-government organization is asking concerned government officials and offices why the activity remains unabated.
The Lang-ay Festival Organization, an ardent advocate for good governance, cultural preservation and environmental protection, has forwarded Resolutions No. 1, series of 2016, dated October 27, 2016, requesting the intervention of President Rodrigo Duterte in the implementation of the “No Quarrying Policy” of the government along the Chico River, particularly around the Bontoc-Samoki Jumbo Bridge.
Another Resolution No. 2 was also forwarded to Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) requesting the agency to reinstate the position of provincial governor as vice chairman of the PMRB.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the DENR, in its feedback letter to the organization, has downloaded the responsibility of clarifying and settling the quarrying issue to the local government units.
It is to be noted that the bridge had been closed to traffic in October for having been wrecked by rampaging waters during the onslaught of Typhoon Lawin in the province last year.
Until now, only one lane of the bridge is being used by motorists after technical engineers allowed it. It is not known until when the bridge will be repaired.
During the meeting of the elders of the organization last Thursday, questions were recommended to be asked, and to be hopefully answered and clarified, during the following day’s Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) meeting here.
Paulino Tumapang, Jr., who was invited to attend the meeting, emphasized that the main question he will ask is: Why do quarrying activities persist when warnings in the past have been issued and posted for these to stop?
In the bill board posted at both entrances of the bridge, the public is being informed of the policy of no quarrying within 500 meters above and below the bridge while a provincial ordinance reportedly states 100 meters above and below.
But the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 or Republic Act 7942, particularly Section 79 (a) states that “No extraction, removal or disposition of materials shall be allowed within a distance of one (1) kilometre from the boundaries or reservoirs established for public water supply, archaeological and historical sites or of any public or private works or structures, unless the prior clearances of government agency/ies concerned or owner is obtained”.
The reiteration of the organization is largely hinged on the environmental destruction the quarrying activities pose to rice fields above and below.
Tomasa Sangayab, a retired mentor and leader of women in the community, said that the quarrying activities do not only pose further destruction to the Jumbo Bridge but also to the rice fields near the river banks.
“The river bed has notably receded through the years making it hard for the sourcing of the irrigation waters to the rice fields” she elaborated.
“There are many who are affected by the quarrying activities; only a few benefit from it”, she stressed.
Meanwhile, the organization is also asking the MPDEO-DPWH, the DENR, and local officials to conduct information drives as to the status of the Chico River Jumbo Bridge and the Sabangan Bridge and other related issues and concerns so that the public will be informed and accordingly guided.
It was recommended during the meeting of the PMRB last Friday that a task force be formed to implement pertinent laws regarding quarrying along the Chico River.
Fay Apil, Regional Director of the MGB and presiding officer of the meeting, said that the formation of the Task Force will be done later in the day.
Recommended composition are representatives from the ENRO, DENR, MPDEO-DPWH, PNP, NCIP, COMMUNITY, and Non-Government Organization.** Roger Sacyaten
