Quarry operations around Mayon probed

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has formed a team that will look into the possible liability of quarry operators in the lahar flow from Mayon Volcano in Albay during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

Six persons were buried alive as lahar rushed down toward Guinobatan town, burying a community of at least 300 houses.

“The investigation will focus on the culpability of these 12 quarry sites, which operate in the same river where the casualties were recovered,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said over the weekend.

“I also want to look at quarry operations around the volcano, not only in that particular area of Guinobatan,” Cimatu added.

The investigating team is composed of representatives from the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau and the local government.

“The task force that we sent there is working on the investigation. But I also directed one of my undersecretaries and the MGB director to go to Albay,” he said.

Cimatu earlier suspended the operations of 12 quarry sites around Mayon as the DENR is  reviewing the operators’ compliance with the quarry regulations.

The investigating team will get additional information from the provincial or city regulatory mining board, which manages quarrying operations in provinces as provided under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, Cimatu said.

He said the team would also coordinate with the office of the governor, which issues quarry permits in accordance with the Local Government Code.

Quarry operations around Mayon probed

Elizabeth Marcelo

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has formed a team that will look into the possible liability of quarry operators in the lahar flow from Mayon Volcano in Albay during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Rolly.

Six persons were buried alive as lahar rushed down toward Guinobatan town, burying a community of at least 300 houses.

“The investigation will focus on the culpability of these 12 quarry sites, which operate in the same river where the casualties were recovered,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said over the weekend.

“I also want to look at quarry operations around the volcano, not only in that particular area of Guinobatan,” Cimatu added.

The investigating team is composed of representatives from the DENR’s Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau and the local government.

“The task force that we sent there is working on the investigation. But I also directed one of my undersecretaries and the MGB director to go to Albay,” he said.

Cimatu earlier suspended the operations of 12 quarry sites around Mayon as the DENR is  reviewing the operators’ compliance with the quarry regulations.

The investigating team will get additional information from the provincial or city regulatory mining board, which manages quarrying operations in provinces as provided under Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, Cimatu said.

He said the team would also coordinate with the office of the governor, which issues quarry permits in accordance with the Local Government Code.