ILOILO – The Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) has intensified its campaign for the strict regulation of quarry extraction, urging all 43 local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo to obtain the required gratuitous permits before extracting sand and gravel for government infrastructure projects.
“Madali lang man na tani nga requirement kag indi sia amo na kabudlay magkuha,” said PGENRO chief Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr.
Obtaining a gratuitous permit is free of charge and requires only an endorsement letter from the LGU, a map of the extraction area, and clearances from the barangay and the LGU, said Buyco.
Once the documentary requirements are complete, the permit can be issued by the PGENRO.
Buyco said the permit serves as proof that the extraction of quarry materials is authorized and allows the PGENRO to issue delivery receipts, which dump truck operators can present during checkpoints and inspections conducted by authorities.
A gratuitous permit is generally required because government projects using extracted sand and gravel must indicate in their program of works and contracts that the materials were acquired at no cost.
“They have to get a gratuitous permit para ma-justify or dira na makita nga wala sang cost sa ila programs of works ang balas kag bato nga gamiton sa project,” Buyco explained.
Without a gratuitous permit, LGUs are prohibited from using extracted sand and gravel in the construction of locally funded infrastructure projects, particularly for concrete works, unless the materials are specifically identified in the program of works as filling materials and their use is authorized by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), according to Buyco.
PGENRO’s reminder came in the wake of charges for theft of minerals in relation to Section 103 of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, and other pertinent laws and ordinances filed before the Office of the Ombudsman against Miag-ao mayor Richard Oscar Garin and three LGU employees.
Clarifying this case, Buyco said the PGENRO had not issued a gratuitous permit to the municipality for the extraction of sand and gravel from the Tumbagok River.
He said the office issued a certification to complainant Salvador Acsay Jr. of Barangay Mat-y, Miag-ao confirming that the municipality had no gratuitous permit for quarry extraction in the river, which later became one of the bases for the filing of the complaint against the mayor and the other respondents.
Garin could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
