Bulacan execs allay quarrying fears

MALOLOS CITY , Philippines – Bulacan officials have allayed fears over the resumption of rampant quarrying along the Angat River with the construction of Angat Sports Water Park.

Local residents raised such concern after Gov. Wilhelmino Alvarado and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief operating officer Mark Lapid led the groundbreaking ceremony of the water park last week.

“There is nothing to fear, “Alvarado said, adding that quarrying along the river will be monitored and regulated to protect its embankment and prevent possible erosion.

The proposed 300-hectare water park will require quarrying to level the depth of the riverbed.

Residents cited a similar project proposed by the local officials, which they claimed was only used by some officials as an excuse for rampant quarry operations.

A resident who asked not to be identified told The STAR that quarrying was to blame for the death of the former municipal administrator of Angat town who was gunned down by suspected New People’s Army rebels in 2003. NPA guerrillas also claimed responsibility for the burning of quarry equipment and other machineries in 2004.

 Mayors Feliciano Legaspi of Norzagaray town and Arnel Mendoza of Bustos also gave assurance that the water park will be safe, adding that water sports activities such as rowing and dragon boat competitions will only be held during summer.

The mayors of Angat, Norzagaray, Bustos and San Rafael were asked to come up with their own tourism packages related to the planned water park.

– Dino Balabo

Alvarado said the Angat Water Park is expected to rival a similar man-made facility in Camarines Sur.