Editorial: Learning lesson the hard way

THE Philippines has always been hit by natural calamities, particularly flashfloods and earthquake.

Last Friday night, panic had engulfed over us as we again experienced another earthquake, the epicenter of which was located in Samar recorded at 7.6 in the Richter scale.

In Cagayan de Oro, the tremor was recorded at intensity 4 and has caused panic among the residents, especially those who were staying in high-rise buildings.

The quake has caused the life of a 45-year-old grandmother whose house in Upper Kolambog, Barangay Lapasan was hit by landslide and rocks from a nearby quarry site and injured her five-year-old grandson.

The incident has pushed Lapasan village chief Omar Labuntog to file an ordinance disallowing quarrying in the barangay.

It’s just so sad that a life was lost before government officials realized the danger of quarrying, along with mining and logging.

Earlier, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has ordered for a stop of all mining activities along the Iponan River and its riverbanks.

However, mining still persists until today.

The government knows very well the threats posed by these activities and yet, officials just keep their eyes and ears closed.

It’s just eight months after ‘Sendong’ claimed hundreds of lives and billions of properties in Cagayan de Oro and other parts of Northern Mindanao but it seems nothing has been done to stop the wanton destruction of our environment.

When will we ever learn our lessons?