DENR suspends quarry operations in Rizal province

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will suspend quarrying operations in Rizal, following concerns that it may be among the causes of flooding in Marikina City and nearby areas.

Marikina and Taytay town are low-lying areas prone to flooding and local executives are faced with flood-related problems during heavy rains.

The plan to suspend quarrying activities came after a Marikina resident asked Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Bong Go what the government intends to do with the issue on flooding, which occurs during heavy rains or typhoons.

Go, who visited several flood-stricken communities in Marikina, Rizal and Quezon City, promised to ask Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to check on the issue and address the problem.

“I will talk with the Secretary of DENR to check on the cause of the problem. We will address it immediately and I will go back to you, that’s a promise,” Go told the unnamed resident during his visit Sunday.

Cimatu said he would confer with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on issuing orders to suspend quarrying operations in Rizal, particularly in San Mateo and Rodriguez.

“We will suspend quarrying operations in places like Montalban (now known as Rodriguez) and San Mateo to help prevent similar incident from happening. Quarrying specially in high areas would have to stop,” he was quoted as saying.

DENR officials also ordered MGB regional director Samuel Paragas to coordinate with Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regional director Noemi Paranada and EMB director Metodio Turbella in issuing a joint Stoppage Order on quarrying and crushing operations in San Mateo and Rodriguez, both in Rizal province.

The DENR also promised to conduct an investigation on the contributory effects of quarrying to flooding in Marikina.

Go assured flood victims that the Duterte administration’s sympathy is with them and the government will extend assistance to them.

“I’m disheartened by what I am seeing. That’s why we are here, I’m here, to show them that the government is here and we are sympathizing with them. We are ready to respond to their needs to the best of our capabilities,” Go said.

The water level in Marikina River reached critical at 20.5 meters Saturday night. At least 5,034 families or 23,870 individuals were evacuated to 26 evacuation centers. The city disaster response teams also rescued at least 60 individuals in flooded communities Sunday.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) delivered at least P12.5 million in relief supplies to augment those of affected local government units.

Over P76 million worth of assistance were also earmarked by the Department of Health (DOH) for victims of Tropical Storm Karding, P17 million of which is for drugs, medicine and medical supplies for the affected regions. At least P59.2 million was also made available at the DOH central office to augment the supplies in regional offices.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has dispatched several medical teams to do a rapid health assessment and provide augmentation supplies to health centers and desks in evacuation centers.

He warned drug stores against overpricing, especially for Doxycyline capsules, a preventive antibiotic against leptospirosis. The DOH has distributed at least 130,000 Doxycyline capsules to prevent an outbreak of the disease.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is also coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to prevent profiteering, hoarding and other acts that may lead to price manipulation.

“As a proactive measure, I am directing the CIDG (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) under director Roel Obusan and the police intelligence units to closely assist in the enforcement of price freeze and take appropriate action in support of the DTI,” said PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde.

State weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said five dams have been releasing water after they reached spilling level.?The water level at Ipo Dam reached 101.82 meters, above its spilling level of 101 meters.

Magat Dam in Isabela province also opened one of its gates to release water while the Ambuklao and Binga dams in Benguet opened eight and six gates, respectively, since Sunday.

Water discharge from Ambuklao and Binga dams flow into the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan, which has four gates opened. – With Rhodina Villanueva, Rainier Allan Ronda, Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe