Chairman to reprimand DPWH, bldg firm

CEBU, Philippines – The Talisay City Council Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management will be sending its two-page report reprimanding the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 for its alleged failure to secure waste disposal permit before dredging operations at the Mananga River.

City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos Jr. questioned the dredging operations because a private company did not seek the city government's permission.

The DPWH reportedly hired Qcon Construction to do the operations for a dredging permit in the city's Mananga River.

"The DPWH authorized a dredging project at Mananga River through Qcon Construction without any authorization from the Committee on Environmental Protection, Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resources Management and from the City of Talisay," Bacaltos said in his report.

The sand and gravel extraction from the dredging project were taken from the vicinity of the Mananga River, he added.

Bacaltos said upon inquiry from Qcon and DPWH, the sand and gravel were used for Qcon's projects and some were transported to the premises of  DPWH.

A cease and desist order was issued by the Committee on Environmental Protection, Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resources to stop the removal of sand and gravel in the river.

In a recent meeting between the DPWH, Qcon and the Committee on Environmental Protection, Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resources at the Mayor's Office, it was found out that the dredging project has reached its completion.

Qcon has sent forth its intention to get a waste disposal permit from the City of  Talisay, but Bacaltos said that the request is already irrelevant as they have completed their project at the Mananga River.

However, Bacaltos, in its committee report, sent a directive to DPWH informing them to secure a permit at the Committee on Environmental Protection, Wildlife Ecology and Natural Resources Management and the city government in the future.

The committee report also said they will be sending a copy of an Ordinance No. 2005 -23, which prohibits the removal of sand and gravel from the Mananga River, to DPWH and Qcon for their proper information.