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[av_heading heading=’Violation spotted in Dumangas quarry ‘ 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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Friday, June 9, 2017
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ILOILO – A wrong quarry method may have caused the collapse of a portion of a limestone quarry in Barangay Sulangan, Dumangas, Iloilo.
The collapse injured a truck driver and backhoe operator.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) inspected the site.
“We right away saw a visible violation, the undercutting method in quarrying,” said Atty. Arthuro Cangrejo, PENRO chief.
In this method, materials were extracted from the bottom using a backhoe, creating undercuts.
The Barangay Sulangan incident on Monday afternoon was an undercutting-induced rockfall or collapse, said Cangrejo.
“Benching should have been the better method of extraction…pyramidal ang pagkuha, amat-amat sa babaw maumpisa,” he said.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. ordered an investigation.
“Indi ‘ni ‘ya lahog-lahog. Indi pwde nga pasensyahan lang. May violation,” he said.
Driver Reygan Biñas, 36, of Barangay Poblacion, San Enrique, Iloilo was taken to the Iloilo Mission Hospital while backhoe operator Reymart Silvestre of Dingle, Iloilo was rushed to the district hospital in Dumangas.
The quarry collapsed around 3:30 p.m. Biñas was trapped in his truck. It took rescuers from the Bureau of Fire Protection of Dumangas and the municipal police station some 30 minutes to extricate him from the truck.
Biñas’ feet sustained cuts and bruises while Silvestre had minor injuries on his right arm, said Chief Inspector Rene Obregon of the Dumangas police station.
Defensor directed Cangrejo to coordinate with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB).
“Then recommend to the appropriate agencies the actions to be taken against the permittees, either administrative or criminal,” said Defensor.
Cangrejo was given one week to finish the fact-finding investigation.
Dumangas mayor Ronaldo Golez identified the quarry permittee as Marry Ann Magbanua Pama. He said he would also order an investigation.
Golez said he would also order a review of the permits of all quarry operators in Dumangas.
Among others, Golez wanted to know if the operators have insured their equipment and even their people./PN
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