ILOILO – The Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) will investigate the landslide at an alleged small-scale mining area in Barangay Anabo, Lemery town on Monday morning, March 18, which resulted in one death.
Atty. Cesar Emmanuelle Buyco Jr., PGENRO head, has designated the Monitoring and Enforcement Team to visit the area today to inspect and if there are necessary permits to determine any liabilities on the lot owner.
“Kadtoan nila, and after one to two days, ma-submit sila sang report,” Buyco told Panay News .
There is no record with the PGENRO that a permit has been issued for small-scale mining or quarrying in the area, Buyco disclosed.
“Wala kami sang may gin-issue nga whatever permit didto sa banwa sang Lemery, so definitely illegal sia, and then small-scale mining or it’s a quarry area, kay nagakuha sila sang materials,” he said.
A PGENRO geologist will be testing sample materials to confirm whether earth, limestone, or clay materials are being extracted.
Initial information from the Lemery Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office revealed that the lot owner is giving away the materials for free to those asking.
However, the PGENRO is not dismissing the possibility of a commercial activity.
Buyco clarified that while the area is privately owned, there are still necessary permits from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, the concerned local government unit, and the provincial government.
“Kinahanglan naton ang permit kay before ka isyuhan sina, ginapa-submit sila sang work plan or plano kon paano obrahan, dira gina-determine whether maging safe ang imo extraction and ano ang environmental safeguard mo para indi matabu ang ginalantaw naton nga halit,” Buyco said.
He added: “Pareho sang atong area, sloping, ginkuhaan mo sa idalom sang material, gin-expose mo sia, sudlon sang tubig. So ang tendency kon open sa idalom matabu gid ang landslide.”
To recall, 51-year-old Rodolfo Escorpeso Jr. was declared dead-on-arrival at Sara District Hospital after dislodged soil buried him. His companion, Godofredo Agnes, was still being treated at the same hospital.
Police Captain Jose Winston Biadog, officer-in-charge chief of the Lemery Municipal Police Station, said the victims were digging soil when a landslide suddenly occurred./PN
