ILOILO – Heeding the request of Mayor Geefre “Kalay” Alonsabe of Alimodian town, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) deferred taking action on applications for renewal of quarry permits.
Alonsabe asked PGENRO to first assess the rivers in Alimodian where sand and gravel were being quarried.
PGENRO officer-in-charge Atty. Arturo Cangrejo said action on applications for new quarry permits was also held in abeyance.
Alonsabe would be consulted before the PGENRO would act on the applications, he added.
The permits of four Alimodian quarry operators already expired. Applications for their renewal were filed. But there are six other quarry operators in the town.
Cangrejo said a team from his office assessed rivers in Alimodian and quarry sites in other parts of the province (towns of Janiuay, Calinog and Dueñas, among others) last week.
The results would be released together, he added, but he did not say when.
Alonsabe said he wanted to know if sand and gravel quarrying in the rivers of Alimodian was still sustainable.
“Last week I happened to pass by the river in Barangay Bulod. I saw a backhoe quarrying sand and gravel. I’m not knowledgeable on these things so I asked the PGENRO to check the area out,” said Alonsabe./PN
