CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia requested the assistance of contractors and sand quarry permit holders in desilting the Buswang River in Barangay Cambang-ug, Toledo City to prevent it from spilling during heavy rains.
During this week's meeting with quarry permit holders and contractors, Garcia mentioned encroachment issues with those who were awarded industrial sand and gravel permits by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB 7)
The Cebu Provincial Information Office reported via Sugbo News that since Odette hit Cebu in December 2021, permit holders Lida Ruelo, Gimar Besaes, and Earl Daniel Dumadag had ceased mining sand and gravel in the river.
Garcia noted that even though the start of El Niño has been announced in the country, the rains are still occurring.
The governor asked the stakeholders to cooperate with the government after the desilting operations.
Desilting is a process of removing silt and sand from the river that causes the river to overflow especially when it rains heavily.
If the problem isn't fixed, the flood risk for the homes near the river may increase.
As a result, some private individuals have pledged to assist RCV Construction in completing the desilting activities.(ANV, TPT)