Capitol adds teams amid threats

CEBU, Philippines - Amid threats, the Capitol deployed more composite teams to curb illegal activities in the Province of Cebu.

The Cebu Provincial Anti-Illegal Fishing Task Force is now joined with the load limit operation team and quarry hauling apprehension team and is called Team Eskina.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said that members of the team are not afraid to continue their operations.

“To all of these cowards that send such cowardly threats over their cellphones, we are aware about this… Don’t complicate your lives, undang na lang kay wa gyud mi mahadlok aning inyong hulga-hulga,” Garcia said.

Team Eskina received plaque of recognition last month from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) for its market denial efforts.

The team is composed of members from the 78th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army, Cebu Provincial Police Office, BFAR-7 and Capitol personnel.

The members of the team were also deputized by the Land Transportation Office 7 to apprehend violators of the 13.5 tons per axle national highway load limit.

Last week, eight quarry haulers were apprehended by Team Eskina in Naga City for allegedly extracting sand and gravel without permits.

The apprehension has already been endorsed to the Provincial Legal Office for the filing of appropriate charges.

The violations include the non-possession of delivery receipts which equates to illegal extraction of sand and gravel or limestone.

After the said operation, close to 200 quarry permit holders signed a memorandum of agreement with the Province of Cebu to strictly follow the conditions set in their permits and to police their own ranks.

Garcia said she would put on hold the approval of all permits until each company complies with the conditions on the load limit and the specified truck dimensions.

The permit holders conceded to the conditions set as well as the specified truck dimensions of 0.92 meters in height, 2.30 meters in width and 4.73 meters in length.

In the MOA signed by the 168 quarry haulers, it was stated that any violation to the agreed conditions will mean an “automatic revocation of the permit.”

Operators agreed that the agreement will benefit the two parties in lessening the maintenance costs of hauling trucks as well as in allowing government to save on road repair expenses.

“Mao ra sad ni ako hangyo ninyo nga magtinabangay ta kay ato man ning Sugbo ug pinalangga man ni nato’ng lalawigan sa Sugbo,” Garcia said. (FREEMAN)