DPWH asked to monitor mining

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 to "strictly" oversee the mining, hauling and quarrying activities in the city’s mountain barangays.

With this, the City Council also asked the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) to submit a list of approved and valid mining, hauling and quarrying permits that the city had issued.

City Councilor Joel Garganera, who heads the council's committee on environment, had earlier said the city government should act on the reported massive quarrying in the mountain barangays.

"The permits being issued to these operators should be strictly and diligently reviewed by CMRB since it is of paramount importance to secure the welfare of our constituents as well as the preservation of the environment,” the resolution reads.

He said the city has experienced non-stop rains last month.

"One of the factors that contributed to such occurrence of calamities are the illegal mining, hauling, and quarrying operations in our territorial jurisdiction," the approved resolution reads.

Garganera said the CMRB should work with DPWH in ensuring that companies that are engaging in the mining business are compliant with the laws and ordinances.

CMRB was created to accept, process, and evaluate all permits in relation to mining, hauling and quarrying in Cebu City.

As of now, the city is still coordinating with over 100 residents who are affected by the landslides in the mountain barangays last month.

Initially, majority of the affected residents opted to avail of the lot offered to them for their relocation.

Garganera said the city should act on this as the landslides may have been caused by the illegal quarrying operations in the mountain barangays.  (FREEMAN)