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Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Guv considers turning over quarry control to firm
By Albert B. Lacanlale
QUEZON CITY -- Pampanga officials may, after all, allow a state-owned firm, the Natural Resources Development Corporation, to manage quarry operations in the province.
Provincial officials led by Governor Mark T. Lapid vowed during a hearing Tuesday by the House of Representatives committee on environment and natural resources to consider the corporation's proposal.
Lapid and seven members of the Provincial Board (PB) who voted against allowing the Provincial Government to enter into an agreement with the corporation were invited to Tuesday's hearing to explain their side.
Pampanga third district Representative Rey B. Aquino earlier urged a congressional inquiry into the provincial officials' refusal to let a private firm handle the province's quarry operations.
As a result, Agusan del Norte Representative Leovigildo Banaag, as chairman of the environment committee, convened the group's members for a hearing on the matter.
Lapid said during the hearing he was willing to study the corporation's proposal once he receives it. Lapid was unable to attend the initial hearing set on February 9.
Top executives of the state-owned firm, who were also at the hearing, pledged to send the Provincial Government their proposal within the next 72 hours.
The governor explained that when the corporation presented the proposal to the Provincial Government on January 17, he was in the US, and Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao took over in an acting capacity.
It was during that time, he explained, that the corporation approached the Provincial Government and presented its proposal to be deputized to collect fees from quarry operators.
The corporation committed to give the province, at the very least, an annual income of P36 million.
Lapid said he was not informed about the proposal and that it was not addressed to him.
He added that since he wished to improve the province's quarry fee collection, he would look into the proposal.
The House committee is expecting the Provincial Government to act on the proposal and be ready with an update on the issue in the follow-up hearing scheduled March 16.
Banaag said the proposal of NRDC is meritorious and urged the PB members to make a thorough study before coming up with a decision.
"I hope we act sooner than later and look into the viability of the proposal," Banaag stressed during the hearing.
Vice Governor Guiao, who staunchly endorsed the corporation's proposal, said the result of Tuesday's hearing is a "victory for Kapampangans".
(March 2, 2005 issue)
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