THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 7 assured consumers Tuesday of sufficient supply of cement amid the temporary suspension of quarrying activities in the country.
DTI 7 Director Asteria Caberte yesterday said that based on the reports from cement producers in Cebu, there is “so much (cement) supply in the region.”
“We are assured of enough supply,” Caberte said, adding that her office is waiting for the inventory reports from cement producers.
According to business owners, there is an average of three to four months’ holding inventory of cement supply being observed by most retailers and producers.
Caberte said what they hope for is the the speedy assessment of the quarrying situation in the country, without compromising on safety, so the suspension could be lifted immediately. Otherwise, a prolonged suspension will have an impact on the supply and affect both public and private construction projects in the province.
There are four big cement producers in Cebu: Apo Cement, Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, Mabuhay Filcement and Republic Cement.
Quarrying and mining operations have been suspended in eight regions, including Central Visayas following massive landslides in the City of Naga and Benguet.
The Cement Manufacturers’ Association of the Philippines earlier issued a statement expressing concern over the suspension but assured its members were fully compliant to health, safety and environmental regulations.
Meanwhile, the crackdown against small-scale mining in Benguet will begin next month after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Oplan Itogon will identify mine sites targeted for closure.
Benguet Small Scale Miners Federation president Lomino Kaniteng, who called for a meeting with the members of the federation, said they will appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider the order, as it would have a domino effect in the livelihood and future of 88 associations in Benguet Province, with 12,000 of its members coming from Itogon. (KOC, SunStar Philippines)