Tripartite body asked to look into quarry, sand & gravel permitting concerns

A TRIPARTITE body composed of the committees on environment and natural resources chaired by Councilor Zaldy Ocon, on trade and commerce and on ways and means both chaired by Councilor George S. Goking will investigate in aid of legislation the renewal process of mountain quarry and sand and gravel permits in the city.

This is in response to the special report of Councilor Enrico D. Salcedo during the regular session Monday presided over by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy, on concerns of businessmen and residents of the city as well as the agencies of the local government who have been affected by the issue.

According to Councilor Salcedo, businessmen have been following up the status of their renewal applications especially on the sector of mountain quarry.

“For until today no action has been taken even though months have passed since they have paid the required fees and complied with all the necessary documents for the renewal,” he cited.

He said sand and gravel permits were, however, recently approved after months of waiting.

“According to the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) the problem lies with the office of Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-10),” he cited.

The councilor said RA 7076 or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991, provides for the creation of a provincial/city mining regulatory board, which is the implementing gency of the department.

With this, Salcedo said the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) should take the lead in processing the issuance of mountain quarry and sand and gravel permits and renewals.

“Isip usa ka mambabalaod sa dakbayan, kita usab nasayod og nagahatag og konsiderasyon sa ahensya nga gadumala niini especially the MGB, kay kita nakasabot man usab nga ang renewal naay rules and regulations nga ginasunod, apan the process of the renewal was long overdue for we are already on the last quarter of 2017, and yet no action has been taken on the matter,” Salcedo stressed.

Because of the delay in processing the permits, Councilor Salcedo said the city has been deprived of income from business permits and delivery receipts from quarry operations.

DATA

According to datum gathered from the CLENRO, there is a decrease in the income of the city from mineral production for the months of January to August, he said.

It indicated that for sand and gravel, the city only collected P1 million in January and February, P708,000 in March, and P487,000 in April.

“Kini nagahatag og dakong epekto kay isa kini sa source of income sa atong dakbayan,” Salcedo pointed out.

Vice Mayor Uy referred the report to the tripartite committee for appropriate action.

“The 18th City Council must act on it. We must have to set as strong requisites for such quarry activities in the city,” the vice mayor stressed. (JBD)