Garganera upset with quarrying

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, the City Council chairman on Environment and the Deputy Chief implementer of the Emergency Operations Center for COVID-19, has expressed dismay on individuals taking advantage of the pandemic for their illegal activities including the quarrying in Barangays Pardo and Agsungot.

While they are busy flattening the curve of COVID-19, someone is also flattening another curve - the mountains of the city, said Garganera.

These illegal quarries accordingly had started last March yet, in time when the Cebu City government was also starting to get busy with matters on COVID-19 and community quarantines were already set up.

Supposedly, aside from all the permits, quarry contractors needed IATF’s go signal for any activity and must be in relation to COVID-19 solutions.

Both quarrying sites have the same contractor named Benito Aratea of Cebu Ore, according to Garganera.

For the case in Pardo, Garganera’s office received a report from private complainants last month following a land dispute, yet quarrying still proceeded.

The barangay council of Pardo has not given any approval nor has issued any permit for a quarrying activity.  No public consultation was also conducted, which resulted in the issuance of a cease and desist order (CDO) last August 17.

In Agsungot, a public hearing was conducted, however, its barangay captain could not present a copy of any permit.

Garganera said they are also going to investigate the barangay captain of Agsungot to check if he has any involvement.

Garganera said he is already asking the Cebu City Environment Office (CCENRO) to issue a CDO for Agsungot, just like in Pardo, as well as ask for DENR’s intervention on this matter. —  GAN (FREEMAN)