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[av_heading heading=’Iloilo running out of sand, gravel ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO – In three years’ time, there may not be enough sand and gravel in this province to meet the demands of the local construction industry, warned the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Region 6.
Citing the assessment of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), MGB regional director Leo Van Juguan urged quarry permitees to be “responsible” in their sand and gravel extractions.
Specifically, quarry permitees must not exceed the limit set by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said Juguan during yesterday’s 1st Iloilo Provincial Quarry Summit at Casa Real de Iloilo (old provincial capitol).
“We have to be responsible in quarrying, in extraction. It is a challenge. We can achieve sustainability if indi ta pag-abusohan ang resources that are there,” said Juguan.
There are currently 51 quarry permitees in the province this year; there were 95 last year.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. raised the possibility of a crisis on sand and gravel filling materials. He identified rivers in the towns of Mina, Pototan and Barotac Viejo – where most of the materials are taken – as having depleted resources.
Juguan said the province can import sand and gravel from other provinces like Antique that has lots of rivers.
Juguan also recommended quarrying in the mountains but this should be regulated by the EMB.
PENRO chief Atty. Arthuro Cangrejo said yesterday’s summit was “a wake-up call especially sa permitees…We should be expecting more responsible quarry permitees.”
“As what the governor had said, indi na nila paghulaton mag-strikto kami,” he warned.
Cangrejo also said illegal quarrying remains a problem.
“That is why we are always asking the help of local government units, especially the barangays, to be on the frontline of regulation,” he said.
The first quarry summit of the province had the theme, “Sustainable Development Through Responsible Mining.”
Based on the records of the MGB in Western Visayas, Cangrejo said, there are areas in the mountains of northern Iloilo where filling materials are available.
“MGB gave us a map. However, we still have to check because if those materials are used for agricultural lands, we can no longer use them. We still have to discuss those concerns,” he said./PN
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