DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/06 May) — –The City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) has recommended the stoppage of quarrying operations for earthfill in Barangay Mandug, Buhangin District following complaints from residents that the activity is causing flooding in the area.
The CMRB report said the cease and desist order (CDO) should be issued against the operator Ambao Magulintang after noting that “the area is prone to landslide and is 513.
21 meters away from creek which caused flooding in the area.”
The quarry also falls within 258.24 meters from the reservoirs which caused depletion of water source in the area.
The recommendation of the board is still up for approval by Mayor Sara-Duterte-Carpio.
The board also observed during their inspection on April 3 and 12 that there is rampant illegal cutting of trees in the area. It recommended that the illegal activity be stopped and regular monitoring be done.
The board added that the renewal of application for commercial earthfill of Oyong Magulintang should not be also granted since his quarry area is adjacent to Magulintag’s in Barangay Mandug.
The proposal to issue the stoppage order arose after the residents of Muslim Village in the barangay asked the city government on March 19 to conduct an area assessment and evaluation relative to the present situation of the quarry operations in the barangay and also Barangay Indangan.
In Barangay Indangan, the CMRB recommended to halt the operations of earthfill quarry operator Jeremias T. Bagohin after the board observed that the firm violated the terms of conditions for extracting outside the permitted area.
Sec. 103 Chapter XIX of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 provides that any entity extracting minerals without permits or agreement shall be imprisoned from six months to six years or pay from P10,000 to P20,000.
Based on the board’s report, Lawyer Joseph Dominic S. Felizarta, vice-chair of the CMRB and officer-in-charge of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said they will also no longer grant new applications and renew permits to the existing quarry operators in Barangay Mandug.
“Any activity related to extraction of earthfill or any unconsolidated materials could pose danger to the lives and properties in the area,” he said.
He said the board also recommended not to issue permits to the quarry operators in Brgy. Lamanan, Calinan District since it is under the conservation area as based on the Watershed Code. Sand and gravel operations are further banned in barangays Binugao and Alambre in Toril District. (MindaNews)
