Thursday, November 13, 2008 Mayor to defy MGB’s cease order
DESPITE a cease-and-desist order from the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB) 7, operations for the road opening project in a barangay in Consolacion will continue.
“This is for the municipality and for the people. We cannot just stop this project. I am now using my discretionary powers as mayor to continue with the project and nobody can stop me,” Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob told Sun.Star Cebu yesterday.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday vowed to look into reports of illegal hauling in the northern town.
But Capitol information consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda dismissed insinuations that Mayor Gungob “intervened” in the arrest of illegal haulers in his town yesterday.
Sepulveda said that Gungob merely “invited” the illegal haulers to his office. The consultant received an initial investigation report from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) yesterday.
Complaint
After receiving a letter-complaint, technical personnel of the MGB 7 investigated last Nov. 5 the reported “earthmoving activities” by the local government unit (LGU) in Barangay Danglag, Consolacion, Cebu.
The technical inspection confirmed that the LGU continued with their quarrying activities in the barangay. Further investigation showed that the excavated limestone materials were hauled to the Consolacion Government Center in Barangay Nangka, allegedly without an appropriate permit.
The MGB 7 also discovered that the reclamation project for the town’s Government Center did not have an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7.
Because the LGU did not have the permits, the MGB 7 immediately asked it to stop its earthmoving and hauling operations in Barangay Danglag until local officials present the proper documents.
“They only have a permit for their road opening project in Barangay Danglag. But for their hauling operations, they do not have a permit,” said Acting EMB 7 Director Roger de Dios.
De Dios added that the road-opening project cannot be made an excuse for the municipality to start hauling the limestone materials.
Permits
“If you open up a road, your operations are cut and fill. But if you start getting materials, you of course have to dispose of it somewhere. But what they are doing right now are earthmoving activities, hauling, getting materials and dumping it somewhere else,” said de Dios.
De Dios advised local officials to start procuring the permits for the municipality to continue with their operations.
“Instead of them confiscating our trucks, they should just come over here and bring the permits. If they want us to have the permits, they should bring them over. What is important here is that we have to help each other so that the country develops,” said Mayor Gungob.
The project seeks to open a mountain highway in Barangay Danglag. At the same time, the materials hauled from the site are intended for the municipality’s reclamation project for the Government Center, said Gungob.
“This project will continue… Who does not want our country to develop? I love my country, I love my municipality and I love my people, and I am just looking out for what is best for them,” the mayor added.
Meanwhile, Sepulveda said he ordered the Penro to submit the final results of its investigation, which will be the governor’s basis for coming up with the proper recommendation. (EPB/GMD)
