CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Provincial Government has ordered the immediate revocation of the permits of some quarry operators and truckers who are back-loading toxic waste and garbage from Metro Manila.
The order came in the heels of the report that toxic waste is being indiscriminately and secretly dumped in areas where there are quarry operations.
Governor Lilia Pineda has also ordered Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) Art Punzalan to conduct investigation regarding the veracity of the continuing reports.
"Kapag napatunayan natin na talagang nagtatapon sila ng basura sa mga quarry sites natin sa probinsiya, kanselahin natin ang permit ng mga ito (If it is proven they really are dumping wastes at our quarry sites, let us cancel their permits)," Pineda said.
The governor is set to meet members of the Pampanga Truckers Associations on Thursday to remind them about her decision to cancel quarry permits of those found to be guilty.
Members of the Pampanga Truckers Association, meanwhile, welcomed the Provincial Government's move, saying they will be more than willing to cooperate with the programs of Pineda, particularly on her desire to zero out garbage problem in Pampanga.
"Dapat sa mga iyan kapag napatunayan, lifetime na hindi na bigyan ng permit," Raul Aquino, a trucker, said.
The Provincial Government also ordered quarry checkers, particularly those assigned along Sto. Domingo-Quezon Road, to inspect not only the quarry trucks going out of the province but also those that are coming in. (Herbert P. Mapiles)