ILOILO – Mountains may be good alternatives to rivers for quarrying sand and gravel.
A task force would be formed to study this option, according to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.
The governor had a dialogue with local officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday at the provincial capitol. They discussed the depleting supply of sand and gravel in Iloilo.
Defensor said the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) would prioritize the contractors of DPWH in the issuance of quarry permits.
DPWH observed the slow implementation of its projects and learned from contractors that “insufficiency of aggregates” such as sand and gravel contributed to the delay.
Region Director Wenceslao Leaño Jr. said P1-billion worth of infrastructure projects would be implemented in Iloilo.
He warned of further delays if the dwindling supply of sand and gravel is not addressed.
Actually, said Leaño, he also asked the provincial governments of Antique, Aklan and Capiz to prioritize DPWH-6 contractors in the issuance of quarry permits.
In Iloilo alone, he said, contractors may need 329,621 cubic meters of sand and 537,722 cubic meters of gravel to complete infrastructure projects this year.
DPWH-6 would also need 162,207 cubic meters of boulders and 566,341 cubic meters of sub-base course, added Leaño.
Samples from mountains would be checked if these meet specifications, according to the director.
During a 2016 “quarry summit” organized by the provincial government, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said there were mountains in northern Iloilo where filling materials could be sourced.
MGB gave PENRO a map. It was not clear, however, if PENRO was able to make follow-ups.
MGB warned as early as 2016 that in three years, there may not be enough sand and gravel in Iloilo to meet the demands of the local construction industry.
For this year, the provincial government decided to limit the issuance of sand and gravel quarry permits. PENRO already issued 44 quarry permits for commercial sand and gravel and 13 for industrial sand and gravel.
It made this decision following a Rapid River Assessment in August 2017. The assessment showed a decline in quarry materials in three main sources: Leon, Tigbauan and Janiuay towns./PN
