Quarry firm ordered to stop operations
LINGAYEN—A company undertaking sand and gravel quarrying in Bayambang town has been ordered to cease and desist operations by the provincial government following a protest rally by residents in the area.
Last Monday, residents of Barangay San Gabriel I, site of the quarrying operations, and nearby barangays held a rally in front of the municipal hall protesting the industrial sand and gravel permit issued to the company.
The cease and desist order, addressed to Pangasinan Everock Mineral Resources Corporation based in Caniogan, Pasig City and represented by Engr. Eduardo Verzosa, was signed by Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan for and by authority of Gov. Amado Espino Jr.
The Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) approved a resolution on July 10, 2013 endorsing the Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit Application of the company signed by Samuel Labadia (representative of the governor), Ernesto de Vera (small-scale mining representative), Inocencio Carganilla (non- government organization representative), Leduina Co (Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer-Pangasinan) and Carlos Tayag (chairman of PMRB Pangasinan).
Baraan said the governor will send back the PMRB in the area to review the complaints and if it is deemed valid, “then we will make this (order) permanent”
“However, if there is no technical or environmental problem or other violations done by the operator, we have no recourse but to allow it (operation) to proceed. Of course there is the social aspect,” Baraan added.
Baraan said quarry operation is a perfectly legitimate activity designed to prevent flooding in the residential and production areas because sediments, soil erosion come down from the mountain especially after 1990 because forests had been denuded. –Eva Visperas
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