BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is not keen on hastily issuing suspension orders for quarry operations in Negros Occidental.
Local officials earlier proposed a two-year moratorium on quarrying if proven that this contributed to the destructive floods that hit several towns and cities early this month.
DENR officials, however, surmised that the massive floods in the province were not caused by quarrying, said Cindy Ferrer, information officer of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6.
She cited the recent aerial assessment of OCD-6, DENR and the Department of Public Works and Highways in the northern portion of Negros Occidental.
Ferrer said one of the observations they noticed was the rivers have become shallow especially in the low-lying areas. This may have contributed to the series of massive floods.
They also noticed obstructions, stockpiling of sand and gravel, illegal structures, fish ponds, siltation and sandbars in the mouths of the rivers.
Earlier this week, Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer proposed a two-year moratorium on quarrying activities in the province.
Next week, representatives from DENR are expected to provide the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) with more insights on what caused the recent flooding, and present sustainable solutions.
Meanwhile, the provincial government is set to conduct ocular inspections on about 200 mountain and river quarry operations.
These aerial surveys will determine if catch basins in the mountainous areas were damaged, causing them to overflow and flood the lowlands.
SP member Andrew Montelibano of the 3rd District will lead the inspection.
Allegations of environmental abuses by quarry operators were brought to the SP’s attention, leading Montelibano to vow to review all quarry permits and be strict in the issuance of new ones.
“There is a need to balance the development of our infrastructures and the protection of our river systems. We build something but we destroy something, too,” he stressed.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier announced he will review the permits granted to quarry operators.
The assessment, according to Lacson, will be in coordination with all concerned local government units.
“Because many areas are now made of concrete and impermeable materials, there is limited ground for water to seep in when there is a heavy rain,” the governor said.
He reiterated that, “There should be no conflict between economic growth and the protection of the environment.”
Lacson likewise appealed to Negrenses to follow proper waste disposal or the flooding will happen again./PN
