Camarines Norte gov faces raps over quarry permit application

MANILA, Philippines — For allegedly sitting on an application for a quarry permit, a complaint has been filed against Camarines Norte Gov. Edgardo Tallado by the Anti-Red Tape Authority.

The ARTA charged Tallado with violation of Section 21 (e) of Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business Law, saying Tallado failed to render government services within the prescribed processing time without due cause.

The governor must be held liable for violation of Section 21 (d) of the same law for failure to give the applicant a written notice on the inaction on his application, it added.

The ARTA said a certain Henry Zabala applied for a permit to quarry gravel and sand before Tallado’s office on April 30, 2018, but the application remains pending.

ARTA director general Jeremiah Belgica said Zabala submitted all the necessary documents,  including an environmental compliance certificate and area status clearance from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Belgica said Zabala also paid the required surety bond as well as application and processing fees.

The ARTA said a review of the Citizen’s Charter submitted by Tallado showed that the Camarines Norte provincial government sets an indefinite period to process a quarry permit.

Under RA 1103, the processing of applications or requests should not exceed 20 working days.

“Under the facts of the case, even assuming that Mr. Zabala’s application is classified as highly technical and that processing time is 20 days, there is still a clear violation of the law since the last document submitted dates back to Nov. 13, 2018, way beyond the processing time required by law,” the ARTA said.

Early this month, a complaint was filed before the ombudsman against Nicolas, Batangas Mayor Lester de Sagun over his alleged unjustified refusal to grant a building permit to a private applicant despite the submission of the necessary documents.