Total quarry ban in Sapangdaku mulled
Extraction of sand and gravel in Toledo City’s Sapangdaku River even without valid quarrying permits. In this May 2012 photo, heavy equipment operate in the river in the guise of rechanneling. (CDN FILE PHOTO)
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) is proposing a total ban on the extraction of sand and gravel in Sapangdaku River in Toledo City.
Penro head Czareem Estella made the recommendation to Gov. Hilario Davide III yesterday following a resolution approved by the Toledo City Council to stop quarry opeartions in the river for the next five years.
He said this is based on studies conducted by Penro and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 that highlighted the immediate need to rehabilitate the river.
Davide, who is visiting medical facilities in Pangasinan, has yet to act on the request.
Estella clarified that Penro has not issued a permit to any quarry operator in Sapangdaku River.
Last November, the Toledo City Council passed a resolution to immediately stop quarrying operations in the river because the activity has “greatly destroyed the river’s natural environment and equilibrium.”
Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña supported the move.
Penro records show that 48 small scale mining companies in Cebu were issued permits to operate, with only one from Toledo City and not for the Sapangdaku River.
However, small scale miners continued to excavate in the area. In September 2013, 39 were apprehended for illegal mining in Sapangdaku. There were eight apprehensions last July and 19 in August.
A Penro report in September 2013 pushed for the rehabilitation of the river which has been “over extracted.”
The depth of its riverbed dropped from eight meters to six meters since 2009.
Foundation piles of the restored Ilihan and Cambang-ug footbridges were already exposed, said the report.
Two years ago, residents of barangay Cambang-ug were alarmed over constant excavation of the riverbed, which would lead to flooding and landslides during the rainy season and pose risk to residents crossing the river.
Quarry operations were suspended five years ago but the ban was lifted on the condition that operators would stick to the specified area of their permits.
A river rechanneling project to clear it of loose earth and debris was carried out during the administration of former governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
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