Gov bans quarry trucks along Megadike; wants shaties out

Gov bans quarry trucks along Megadike; wants shanties out

BY: JOEL P. MAPILES & MARNA H. DAGUMBOY









BACOLOR , Pamp. -- Gov. Lilia “Nanay Baby” Pineda has ordered the banning of all quarry trucks traversing along the Megadike here, at the same time canceling quarry permits of operators in Sta. Rita and this town.

Pineda, during an inspection yesterday, personally saw the damages of the West Lateral Dike, and was surprised by its breaching and destruction.

The inspection was also made in line with reports that the megadike and quarry areas are being used as illegal dumpsites of toxic and hazardous waste materials.

Pineda then asked the cooperation of quarry operators for road maintenance, saying they should always coordinate with the government to avoid the destruction of the road, particularly the Megadike.

Fourth District Board Member Bay Tolentino, committee chair on environment, said the governor is right on canceling the permit of the truckers here and in Sta. Rita, as the income that can be derived from the quarry operation is not enough to fund the maintenance of the dike.

“Mas malaki iyong disadvantage kaysa sa advantage kaya tama si governor,” he said.



Shanties Out

The governor had also instructed Mayor Jose Maria “Jomar” Hizon to effect the removal of more than 20 shanties situated along the toe of the West lateral portion of the megadike in this town.

Pineda said this move is in time for the August 1 visit of officials of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), who funded for the construction of the said dike through a loan agreement.

Pineda said the provincial government has no option but to remove the informal settlers living within three meters of the dike, to effect the agreement entered between JICA and the Philippine government on the maintenance of the said facility.

The present condition of the dike which they have evaluated will have an effect on the future approval of JICA loans, Pineda said.

Engr. Lita Manalo of the Mount Pinatubo Commission said the JICA officials will go back to visit the present condition of the dike on whether the government has already made some improvements based on their past evaluation.

The governor, upon visiting the west lateral dike, was surprised with the unauthorized destruction made on the structure just to open a rough road leading to a community in Barangay Balas, this town.

Manalo said the government will not close the breached portion of the dike but they would implement a concrete armoring of both ends to maintain the integrity of the dike.

Meanwhile, Hizon said he is willing to maintain the megadike through his personal and municipal equipment, so as not to derail the operation of the quarry truckers.