Thursday, August 07, 2008 Quarry in landslide has no permit By Grace L. Plata and Carlo P. Mallo
THE operator of the Dims Quarry at sitio Mahayahay in Barangay Langub, Ma-a, where a landslide killed three people and injured a teenage boy, was holding an expired permit to quarry from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro).
It was also reported that an application for renewal was still pending at the Cenro before the landslide around 1:45 p.m. last Monday, which buried Edgar Selana, 49, and Nelson Tagalog, 20, both quarry laborers and residents of Riverview Village in Bacaca, Davao City.
"Expired na gyud to ilang permit (Their permit has expired) and we will deny the re-application," Engineer Girlie Ann Japitana of the Natural Resources Division of the Cenro said in a phone interview Wednesday.
The owner of the land is Letty Uy, while Maunlad Cooperative of Davao operated the quarry. It wasn't clear if Uy is part of the cooperative.
Injured and rescued by the 911 Quick Response Team were Uy's nephew, Johnlord Uy, 2, and Voltaire John Adoracion, 17, who were rushed to the Davao Medical Center. Uy later died at the hospital Wednesday.
Initial investigation of the Talomo Police revealed that while the workers were loading sand and gravel into a truck, the landslide took place.
The police also reported that quarry caretaker Bernardino Bali had warned about possible landslide if quarrying continues, but this was not heeded.
Cenro chief Jocelyn Espina earlier said the office would conduct an independent investigation to ensure that those responsible will face sanctions. This move came after it was learned that the permit already expired on May 28, and an application for renewal was said to have been filed after the expiration date.
Quarry operations are prohibited without updated permits.
Meanwhile, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Southern Mindanao has yet to receive a report about the landslide.
"We have no reports on that," said Richard Virtudazo, Disaster Management Action Officer of MGB, in a telephone interview.
Virtudazo said they would have to consult first with the Disaster Coordinating Council so they can gather reports on the said incident.
It was also learned that MGB's geologists were still in Davao del Sur as of Wednesday. (With SuperBalita)
