Families can’t go back to landslide-hit area

Screenshot from RTVM Malacanang video
Screenshot from RTVM Malacanang video

FAMILIES left homeless by the landslide will not be allowed to return to Sitio Sindulan in Barangay Tina-an, City of Naga, but no less than President Rodrigo Duterte assured they will be relocated to a safer area.

Duterte, who visited the families at the evacuation center last night, also assured them that the government will shoulder the hospitalization and burial expenses of those affected.

He said that City of Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong and Gov. Hilario Davide III are already talking about the relocation to a Province-owned lot located less than a kilometer from Tina-an.

Duterte also told the survivors that he will work to stop mining in the country before he steps down from office.

“Ibawal nato na. That’s the only way nga akong buhaton una ko munaog pagkatrabahante sa gobyerno. (We will prohibit it. That’s what I will do before I step down as a worker of the government),” he said in his speech at the East Poblacion barangay hall in the City of Naga, where he interacted with some of the survivors.

As this developed, the Cebu Provincial Government has ordered the suspension of all quarry operations in the province following the massive landslide in Barangay Tina-an.

Chiong also issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) to all mining operations in the city, including small scale quarries.

Davide’s order only covers quarry operations since mining activities are under the jurisdiction of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Davide then directed the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) to inspect and do risk assessment in all quarry sites in the province that were given permits by the Capitol to prevent another massive landslide.

The governor, however, said that his order does not cover the operation of a cement company in Naga since their operation was given the go-signal by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Penro has so far given permits to 35 quarry sites. The said quarry operations were given the go-signal based on the geohazard map of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

These are located in Talisay City (two), Minglanilla (two), Naga (seven), San Fernando (two), Argao (two), Dalaguete (one), Alcantara (three), Consolacion (four), Compostela (two), Danao City (two), Carmen (two), Tabogon (one), Medellin (two), Pinamungajan (two) and Asturias (one).

Davide did not disclose until when the suspension order will take effect.

Chiong, for her part, issued Executive Order 29 that covered the issuance of the CDO to all quarry operations in the city.

Chiong said she wants all quarry operations reviewed. She also wants to determine whether or not these activities are detrimental to the lives of the public.

Covered in her order is the Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) which provides materials to Apo-Cemex Corp., whose operation was blamed by the residents for the landslide.

Seven other quarry operators registered with the City Government were also given CDOs.

Chiong said she will only lift the CDO once a National Government agency such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources recommends that it will be lifted.

The mayor said she doesn’t want a repeat of what happened in Tina-an. AZLG, JKV

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