MANILA, Philippines — The ban on quarrying remains in effect in Naga City in Cebu, where dozens of residents died in a landslide more than a week ago, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu said Apo Land Quarry Corp. in Naga is among the companies still covered by the suspension order.
Cimatu said experts from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau were deployed to look into the geohazard condition of the quarry site. He said quarrying in Naga would remain suspended until further notice.
On Thursday, Cimatu said 90 percent of companies involved in quarrying could resume operations provided quarry sites are one kilometer away from residential communities that can potentially be affected.
Cimatu said the DENR decided to allow companies in La Union, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Zambales, Batangas, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Misamis Oriental, Iligan City and Davao City to resume quarry operations.
“There are no communities around quarry sites that will be affected in case of a landslide,” he pointed out.
Cimatu suspended quarrying in Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, Caraga and Davao following the landslide in Naga.
There are at least 65 quarry operators across the country.