Eco body stalls flood control project

CEBU, Philippines -  The construction firm that will undertake the repair and maintenance of the flood control structure in the critical section of Mananga River cannot yet start the ground work for its project in Talisay City.

This as the Office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Czareem Joseph Estella informed the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Talisay that they will hold in abeyance the issuance of the permit application to Quirante Construction.

PENRO then received Quirante's application for special waste disposal permit for the construction of flood control structure in the river's downstream potion, particularly in Tabunok and Lawa-an sites.

"PENRO-Capitol will hold in abeyance the processing of the permit application of Quirante Construction," the letter addressed to the Talisay City Council read.

Recently, Talisay City Councilor Antonio Bacaltos Jr. questioned why the firm did not seek the Talisay City government's permission for dredging.

Bacaltos already consulted the dredging operation at Mananga to PENRO. The river, according to the councilor, usually dries up during the summer and is often the subject of many illegal environmental violations, including the illegal extraction of sand and gravel.

Estella, however, assured the city government that they will not issue special waste disposal to the contractor until such time that joint conference between the city government, the contractor and PENRO will take place.   (FREEMAN)