Naga to suspend business permit of quarry firm

THE business permit of the quarry operations of a company based in Naga City will be suspended until it complies with the recommendations of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7.

"I will suspend their (JLR Construction and Aggregates Inc.) business permit on the basis of the welfare of the people," said City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong, who added the notice will be issued on Monday.

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Chiong met yesterday with MGB 7 officials, led by Mining Section Chief Engr. Armand Malicse and Mining Operations Officer Engr. Raul Laput. Also present were JLRCAI representatives Manuelito Jumaoas and Herbert Kamasura.

The meeting was called after an Aug. 29 flash flood washed three siblings and their grandmother away. A 13-year-old girl was found dead Monday while the body of her eight-year-old brother was retrieved off Bohol.

The accident site, MGB investigating team noted, occurred about 30 meters from the drainage outfall of JLRCAI's active quarry site.

"During the meeting, they admitted there were lapses. There was no benching. I asked (the MGB officials) why there were no penalties imposed. I did not get a clear answer from them," said Chiong.

He added a technical conference will be conducted to discuss the measures that will be implemented.

Kamasura, JLRCAI community relations officer, said during the meeting with Chiong, the suspension of their business permit was not official.

"We are waiting for the final written memo from the mayor for the suspension," he said.

Kamasura said the company will begin to work on the recommendations by MGB 7 today.

"Whatever the recommendation of MGB, we will comply, not for our benefit, but also for the public," he said.

“JLR has always been and will continue to be more than compliant in following rules and regulations. We care for our community and we continue to do activities beneficial to them,” the company also said in a statement.

Kamasura said they started work on the canal and are putting up the rest of the signs.

In a separate interview, Malicse said the agency recommended the construction of a canal or waterway that would direct floodwaters to a nearby creek.

"What happened during the accident was that the waters went toward the quarry road and not to the Cabuan creek where it was supposed to go," he said.

"We also recommend the installation of two-line 48-inch culverts. We also recommended that signs be set up," he added.

No violation

The agency also recommended the conduct of an information education campaign with the local government units, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council, Office of Civil Defense and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

"There is no direct violation that we can attribute to JLR as of now," said Malicse, who is also the head of the multi-partite monitoring team at the quarry site.

"But we are looking into legal parameters. We will review aspects on technical, legal and operations (of the quarry site)," he added.

Malicse said the company representatives present at the meeting will need to wait for an official notice from the agency.

Senior Science Research Specialist Engr. Abraham Lucero Jr. and Mining Safety and Health Section officer-in-charge Engr. Romeo Patalinghug conducted an investigation at the site last Aug. 31.

The team noted there was “abnormally” heavy and continuous rain for a short period of time that caused the flash floods.

It recommended that residents living near Guindaruhan River be extra vigilant during heavy rains and relocate to a safer area.

Meanwhile, City of Naga Administrator Arthur Villamor said the decision of Chiong to suspend the business operations of JLRCAI is “fair enough” to avoid any loss of lives in the firm’s quarry site.

He said the suspension of the business permit will temporarily stop the firm from hauling quarried materials in Barangay Cogon, an upland village about 10 kilometers from the national highway.

“The suspension order will only be lifted once they shall have complied with all the requirements set by the DENR,” Villamor said.

The mayor’s action, he said, is only appropriate so he will not be misconstrued to have not done anything about last Sunday’s flash flood.