THE Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) 7 claims it issued two geohazard threat advisories to the City Government of Naga a month before last week’s landslide.

MGB 7 said this in reaction to the claims of City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong that they have been negligent in warning the public.

Chiong denied receiving the two threat advisories.

Posted on MGB 7’s website, the two geohazard threat advisories issued on Aug. 13 and 22 this year contained letters from MGB 7 Director Loreto Alburo, warning Chiong that landslides and flooding could occur in her city due to rains and thunderstorms from July to September.

Alburo also reminded Chiong on the 1:10,000 scale geohazard maps they gave the City to be used to determine which areas are susceptible to landslide and flooding. Chiong said the two MGB 7 advisories are “standard, generic, routinary.”

The two documents also don’t bear receipt stamps from the City Government.

This, as the MGB 7 is looking into eight big quarry operations in the region. Of these, five are in the Province of Cebu -- one in Danao City, one in San Fernando, one in Alcoy and two in the City of Naga.

Not included is the Apo Land and Quarry Corp. since it is being handled by MGB’s central office.

Other quarry sites being monitored by MGB 7 are in Bohol, Siquijor and Negros Oriental.

Capitol said it will not hesitate to revoke quarry permits if operators are found to have violated safety standards.

The use of quarry permits in the province were suspended last Friday. (AZLG, JKV)