Gwen commends CPPO for action on quarry ban

CEBU, Philippines — Governor Gwendolyn Garcia commended the Cebu Provincial Police Office for its quick action against all violators of the quarrying ban, citing the recent arrests in Asturias and Compostela.

“The Cebu Provincial Police Office, particularly our director has been very, very supportive of all quarrying activities in Cebu,” Garcia said.

During a courtesy call today, Police Colonel Roderick Mariano, the new Cebu Provincial Police Office director, discussed with the governor the coordination of their offices in the implementation of the quarrying suspension.

Garcia said she has deployed two teams from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office to inspect the quarry. The teams have been instructed to document the state of the rivers and mountains adversely affected by the quarrying operations.

The CPPO is also assigned to escort these teams during their inspection.

“Continuous ang checkpoints namin,” Mariano said about the current actions of the CPPO to ensure that the suspension is being followed.

Garcia also stressed that although many companies and corporations have expressed their frustration at the ban, residents in the areas near quarrying activities in the city are a priority since they constantly fear the threat of landslides.

“Mas naglisod ang mga way mga negosyo nga nagpuyo didto sa quarrying sites,” she said.

It was also discovered that prior to the suspension, 73 of 74 operating quarries for sand and gravel have expired permits. She said that once the inspections are complete, she will call on the permittees and the corporations that have yet to renew their permits to show them the state of their sites.

Currently, the Capitol has made it clear that they are more concerned with the rehabilitation of the degrading areas near the quarrying sites, rather than the immediate suspension of quarrying operations. — BRP (FREEMAN)