CENRO sets up 30 stations to monitor transport of quarrying materials

These stations are manned by 80 personnel from CENRO.

CENRO-Mines and Geoscience Section Chief Engr. Melody Dapusala in her interview over 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Tuesday (Sept. 6), said her office monitors quarry tickets during the transport of quarry materials.

A total of 113 quarry permits had been granted by the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) as of August 31,2022.

Out of the 113, 86 were granted commercial sand and gravel permits; 23 got their earthfill permits; and four have limestone permits. Of the 86, 63 got quarrying permits to operate in Davao River, 20 in Lasang River, two in Matina River, and one in Bayabas Creek in Toril.

Construction materials like sand and gravel, according to Dapusala, are being sourced for infrastructure projects in Davao City, such as the Coastal Road.

However, she said CENRO continues to implement mitigating measures to preserve the rivers and their environs, which is why commercial quarrying in the city is regulated.

Those granted quarry permits, she said, must adhere to the terms and conditions of their permits to prevent abuse of the environment. "Aside from that, they also conduct river bank rehabilitation activities. One requirement for their permit renewal is planting trees along riverbanks as part of the mitigating efforts within their quarry areas.”

She also said that only a few areas remain for quarry permit applications. New quarry applications pass through the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Dapusala said that the city should come up with a resource sustainability and geohazards assessment to determine which quarry areas still have sufficient quarry materials. This will check and monitor if the rivers can sustain new quarry permit applications.

CENRO, being the Secretariat of the CMRB, accepts, processes, and evaluates applications for quarry permits and submits them to CMRB for deliberation and approval.

She cited Davao City Ordinance No. 0325-15/1814-15, series of 2015, also known as "Ordinance Closing Off the City of Davao to Mining Operations" which prohibits all forms of mining operation in any area in the city's territorial jurisdiction. Only quarry resources are allowed in the city. The mining of gold, copper, zinc, and other precious metals. is strictly not permitted.

In 2020, Mayor Sara Duterte then issued Executive Order No. 48, or "An Order Creating an Inter-Agency Task Group to Address Issues and Concerns on all Commercial and Illegal Quarrying Operations Within Davao City such as but not limited to Earthfill, Sand, and Gravel, and Limestone Quarry Materials."