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Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Pampanga guv forms task force to handle quarry
By Marna H. Dagumboy
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio on Monday formed a mining board and a special committee to manage sand and gravel quarry operations in the province.
The order creating the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board (PMRB) and a special committee called Balas (Biyaya A Luluguran At Sisikapan) was the governor's first since he assumed office on July 1.
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The board and committee would be tasked to oversee the administration, operation, and monitoring of quarry sites and checkpoints for the purpose of developing systems to maximize income.
Under Panlilio's Executive Order 1-93, all quarry operators are required to:
* Validate and authenticate existing permits, and renew or secure permits for those with lapsed or lacking permits
* Submit documents for permit validation/authentication/renewal or secure permit from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) officer-in-charge who shall recommend to the governor, through the provincial administrator, the issuance of provisional authority to quarry
* Pay quarry fees at the Provincial Treasurer's Office and
* Quarry operators who had paid fees must seek validation or authentication of their receipts.
Vice Governor Joseller Guiao said the Pampanga Provincial Board (PB) would also pass a measure for quarry operations in the province. The measure will set the guidelines for supervising quarry activities and the composition of the monitoring committee.
Guiao said the ordinance will seek "no authority to impose the amount of taxes paid by quarry operators," adding there will be "no exchange of money outside the Capitol" for the purpose of transparency.
He said his office would keep an eye on the governor's quarry task force.
The special task force, according Panlilio, will be tasked to review the current system of quarry operations in the province.
Panlilio earlier announced he would appoint Guiao as primary adviser on quarry since the vice governor has extensive experience on quarry operations. He, however, later changed his mind, saying the quarry operation is an executive function and Guiao handles legislative tasks.
Guiao said he will "maintain his independence" and will not seek any position in the group that will handle quarry operations in the province.
He said he would not compromise any position in the monitoring or even check and balance of quarry operations. He vowed to continue to focus on his legislative tasks. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (July 3, 2007 issue)
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