Osmeña stops quarry in Pulangbato

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has suspended for 15 days the quarry operation of the lone quarry permit holder in the mountain barangay of Pulangbato.

Osmeña’s decision was in response to the order of Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu suspending for 15 days the quarry operations in Regions 1, 3, 4A, 5, 7, 10, 11, and 13.

“In view of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau Memorandum dated September 21, 2018, you are hereby ordered to suspend quarry operations for 15 days, pending conduct of safety and geohazard assessment in your area of operation and its surrounding communities,” reads Osmeña’s September 24 order.

The memorandum, which Osmeña signed last Sunday, was addressed to Kelly Quijada, the lone quarry permit holder in the city.

To recall, Cimatu ordered the suspension of quarry operations in eight regions following the massive landslide in Barangay Tinaan in Naga City, Cebu that killed over 60 people.

Councilor Alvin Arcilla, vice chairman of the Cebu City Mining Board, said Quijada has been operating in Barangay Pulangbato for over four years already.

“Ang Pulangbato nga area dinha sa Sitio Dita, naa na’y mining right nga gi-grant sa DENR-MGB. Ang quarry operations nila, layo na sa residential. Naay duol sa residential mga 10 houses siguro nga gipuy-an sa mga workers,” he told The Freeman.

Arcilla said the city government will not only look into the quarry operations but also the site developments in the upland barangays.

He said he will ask the DENR-MGB to assess the areas where there are site developments to ensure the safety of the residents living in the area.

“Wala man gyuy safe kay anytime, mahitabo ang disaster or accident. Ang Cebu City, dependent ra gyud ta sa expertise sa MGB maong mo request ra ta nila nga mo inspect sa areas sa quarry sites or kaning sige developments,” Arcilla added.

During its regular session yesterday, the City Council asked the executive department to stop the quarry operations in the upland barangays to prevent the same incident in Naga City from happening in Cebu City.

In a privilege speech, Councilor David Tumulak expressed his concerns on the safety of those living in barangays identified as highly-susceptible to landslide.

He said the MGB has released a geohazard threat advisory naming 19 upland barangays that are highly-susceptible to landslides such as; Lusaran, Binaliw, Guba, Budlaan, Malubog, Boot, Busay, Sirao, Taptap, Tagbao, Tabunan, Pung-ol Sibugay, Sudlon I, Sudlon II, Sinsin, Buhisan, Pamutan, Sapangdako, and Adlaon.

“To request barangay officials to coordinate with MGB and CCDRRMO to strengthen awareness and make info dissemination on the hazards of their barangays,” Tumulak said.

The council approved all his requests, including asking officials to issue early warnings if there are risks in a barangay and asking the psychology departments of the University of the Philippines, University of San Carlos, and University of San Jose-Recoletos to assist the social workers in conducting stress debriefing for the families and rescuers.

The council asked the City Planning Development Office to submit an inventory of the site development permits approved for the past five years.

The council also asked the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Mining Board to inspect the legal and illegal quarry operations in the mountain barangays and identify the areas they operate, and for the police to assist CENRO and the Mining Board in enforcing national laws. (FREEMAN)