INSPECTORS from the Provincial Government will be deploying drones anew to help in the inspection of quarry sites operating in northern and southern Cebu.
The move came after Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia received reports of over quarrying despite the implementation of a new cap of 10,000 cubic meters per quarry permit.
“Now I am seeing, after I ordered an initial surprise inspection, that there are some operators that have been extracting beyond the allowed volume. We will not only revoke, but I may no longer issue quarry permits to them,” Garcia said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
After assuming office in July 2019, the governor issued Memorandum Circular 4-2019, which aims to put a stop to the “unabated” illegal quarrying activities and prevent the “further degradation” of the environment which may lead to calamities, destruction of properties and loss of lives.
After taking aerial shots as part of its preliminary evaluation, the Provincial Government started its actual inspection of all quarry sites in September 2019.
Based on the findings, only two of the 54 quarry permits issued in the province have operated within their designated quarrying permits.
Of the total number of quarry permits in the Province (situated in Consolacion, Minglanilla, Danao City, Carmen, San Fernando, Talisay City, Dalaguete, Alcantara, Bogo, and Asturias) only one in San Fernando and one in Carmen operated within their allowed quarrying areas.
After finding several violations by those issued quarry permits, the Provincial Government implemented a new cap of 10,000 cubic meters per quarry permit, and the permit will be good for only one year.
By reducing the duration of the permit, Garcia said there will be an ocular inspection for every extension.
“That’s because they won’t follow and they try to look for a loophole,” she added. (RTF)