Shed light on quarry issue

CEBU, Philippines - Pinamungajan Mayor Glenn Baricuatro has sought for clarification from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 on the operations of quarry ventures in Barangay Lamac.

In a letter dated August 11, 2014 addressed to MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo, Baricuatro raised two issues which include the boundary between Lamac area in the municipality and the City of Naga.

The other issue is whether the quarrying operations, particularly blasting, could in any way affect the caves of Barangay Lamac, which are considered as natural monuments.

Prior to this, the Barangay Council of Lamac had earlier asked the help of Vice Mayor Honeylette Yapha-Lingad for the halt of the operations.

The barangay officials said that they started their petition to stop the operations since 2011 but was never granted by the concerned government agencies.

“We are not tired to still make a move because we are looking for the safety of the Lamacanons,” read the Barangay Council resolution passed on July 6, 2014.

The petition against the quarry operations was made to protect the water source and the natural environment and to protect the cultural heritage of the town, especially the Nagkawa Cave, which is just a few meters away from the operation.

“We don’t want disaster may happen anytime due to the quarry operations and may affect the lives and properties of the people of Lamac,” further read the resolution.

Yapha-Lingad forwarded the barangay resolution to the Office of Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez on August 20, 2014.

Sanchez, last Monday, endorsed the letter of Yapha-Lingad and the Lamac barangay resolution to the PB, which referred it to the committee on environmental protection and conservation chaired by Board Member Thadeo Ouano for review. — (FREEMAN)