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CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Capitol will no longer pursue its investigation into the transportation and use of crushed dolomite from Alcoy for the “rehabilitation” of Manila Bay.
Board member John Ismael Borgonia, chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, said the provincial government would put its faith in the statement by the Office of Mines and Geosciences (MGB) that the transportation of minerals from the south of Cebu City was carried overhead. .
“Considering that the MGB has been issued [og statement]… The declaration of the MGB we will definitely give all our faith and trust especially that they are the main implementers [of the concerned environmental laws]”Borgonia said in an interview this Monday, September 7.
(Considering that the MGB was the one who issued [a statement] … then we must give all our faith and confidence to the MGB statement especially since they are the main implementers [of the concerned environmental laws].)
Last Saturday, MGB-7 confirmed that it had issued a transportation permit last August that allowed a mineral processing company in the city of Alcoy to transport 3,500 WMT (wet metric ton) of processed dolomite to the Manila Integrated Terminal in the city of Manila.
The agency’s statement came two days after the mineral filling was first interpreted as “white sand” on the shores of Manila Bay, drawing criticism as some environmental advocacy groups called the move. as destructive not only for Manila Bay, but also for the place where the dumped minerals were obtained.
READ: 3.5k metric tons of dolomite for Manila Bay from Alcoy, Cebu
Following inquiries last Friday, Borgonia told reporters that the province would conduct an investigation into the matter expressing alarm that minerals mined from the province were being used to fill the bay.
On Monday, September 7, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice asked the Provincial Board for a full investigation “to hold MGB-7 and DENR accountable for their lenient regulations on extremely harmful industries.”
“We look forward to swift and decisive action against violators. The Cebu Chapter of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice will fully support the ordinances to ensure that environmental impacts are given the utmost importance so that these industries are fully implemented, ”PMCJ said in its statement.
READ: PB is urged: Continue the investigation into the transportation of dolomite from Alcoy to Manila Bay
However, Borgonia said the statement issued by the MGB and the agency’s assurance that mandatory regulations were properly followed were sufficient to answer questions arising from the “white sand” controversy.
“As much as we want, but MGB and DENR na ang niingon (they are the ones who have spoken). We cannot be holier than the Pope. The agencies in charge [of the] environment kay ni-discard na (because they have decided), how much more kita diri sa (we here in the) province? “Added Borgonia./dbs
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