Despite calamity, quarry revenues make P20-M mark

SAN Fernando City – “It just goes to show that quarry collections in the administration of Governor Lilia Pineda, under the watch of Vice-Governor Joseller ‘Yeng’ Guiao are consistent and efficient.”

So said Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office chief Engineer Art Punsalan Tuesday, as the quarry collection last August reached P20,895,000 despite the recent calamity brought by the southwest monsoon.

“Quarry operations stopped by more than five days because of the recent calamity which affected some of our quarry sites and routes. Yet, because of the efficiency and consistency in collections, we were able to maintain our monthly average with a little less than P21 million last month,” Punsalan told Sun.Star Pampanga.

The August collections, added to revenues from January to July this year, he said, ups revenues to a record breaking P173,455,000. To date, the grand total stands at P556,157,500 as a result of high collections from July to December 2010 [P119,385,000] and January to December 2011 (P238,380,000) combined.

Punsalan furthered that another factor boosting the quarry industry now is the harmonious relationship between Capitol and quarry stakeholders.

“Added to efficiency and consistency is the harmonious relationship between the provincial government and quarry stakeholders. Our quarry operators are responding to the calls of Capitol on its anti-flooding measures. They have volunteered and are now helping dredge and desilt important water channels to prevent flooding using their own equipment with no cost to the government. It is a very good example of public-private partnership fostered by the Pineda administration,” Punsalan said. (Jovi T. De Leon)