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[av_heading heading=’Negros Occ. quarry operator in ‘hot water’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
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Friday, April 28, 2017
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BACOLOD City – A quarry operator in Negros Occidental is under investigation for using counterfeit transportation permits, also known as “coupons.”
Coupons are issued to operators registered with the provincial government so they may extract and deliver quarry materials.
“He was caught with many fake coupons in his possession,” Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. told reporters yesterday.
The Provincial Legal Office is handling the investigation.
Provincial Environment Management Officer Wilmon Peñalosa refused to identify the quarry operator but said he is from Kabankalan City.
Only the Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO) may issue the coupons, he stressed.
“We were informed about [the fake coupons] three weeks ago, and we coordinated with the PTO,” Peñalosa said.
“They (PTO) gave us a copy of their investigation report, and we issued a Notice of Violation to the perpetrator,” he added. “We scheduled a hearing with the PLO but he (operator) asked for time to answer the charges.”
The subject operator printed fake transportation permits with similar serial numbers, Peñalosa said, citing PTO investigation.
What the operator did constitutes a violation of the Provincial Tax Ordinance, which comes with a minimum penalty of a P15,000 fine, he said.
“I don’t believe [the coupons] came from my office because it is the PTO that issues [them],” he said, adding that the coupons come in four copies — “one each for the provincial government, the proponent (quarry operator), the barangay, and the PTO.”
While under investigation by capitol lawyers, the permit of the subject operator is suspended, Peñalosa stressed.
After complying with requirements, legitimate quarry operators pay corresponding fees and are issued a governor’s permit, said Peñalosa.
More than 100 operators in Negros Occidental were issued permits for sand and gravel quarrying and have been using PTO-issued coupons, he said./PN
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