PB dad wants probe on Naga quarry

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano is requesting the Provincial Environment Office (Penro) to conduct an investigation on whether the quarry site inBarangay Cogon, Nagawas the primary cause of the flashflood that killed two children three weeks ago.

The accident occurred last August 29 near a quarry site owned by JLR Construction and AggregatesInc.

Ouano, in his proposed resolution, said that the company has declined to comment what had happened although Barangay Councilor Elmer Tablate of Barangay Inayagan pointed out the company’s failure to set up benching and huge culverts in the mountain as one of the factors that caused the flashflood.

Ouano, though, cited earlier news reports stating that there are culverts in the area but these are placed sporadically and are too small for the raging waters from the highlands.

Because of this, the waters passed through the road instead of going through the river, and swept the children away.

He said that aside from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 7, which will be sending an investigation team to the area to check the flashflood and a landslide, engineers coming from the city will also inspect the river.

Ouano hopes that with representatives coming from the Provincial Engineer’s Office, they would be able to get more information about the issues surrounding the quarry operations.

He wants to know whether the quarry activities comply regulations and measures imposed by the government agencies for public health and safety.

Last August29 in the afternoon, Agripina Paran, 55, together with her three grandchildren, tried to cross the Gunindarohan river which was near the quarry site.

Both Agripina and her grandson Reynan were able to hold on to the rocks but her 13-year-old grandchild Cris was killed after she was swept a kilometer away from them while her 8-year-old sibling was found the following day in an islet in Cuaming, Bohol. (THE FREEMAN)