‘Stop Quarry Operation’ Fisher Group Asks PNoy

A group of fishermen in Barangay Bangbang, Cordova town has requested President Benigno Simeon Aquino III to stop the allegedly illegal quarry operation in their barangay.

Rogaciano B. Sumagang, head of Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Bangbang (Namasba) Inc., had sent a letter to Malacañang informing the President Aquino that their barangay captain issued a clearance allowing the quarry operation without public consultation.

Sumagang claimed that the personnel of Solid Stone Center Corporation, the one that is conducting the quarry operation in Barangay Bangbang, had failed to secure an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) when they started their activities.

The head of the fishermen association also asked the President to direct the concerned government agency to investigate Bangbang Barangay Captain Samuel Sumagang for granting clearance to Solid Stone Center without conducting a public hearing.

Solid Stone Center Inc. is conducting a quarry operation in said barangay to gather a special kind of rock commonly known as Mactan Coral Stones for industrial purposes.

Hundreds of residents in Barangay Bangbang had signed the petition letter that Sumagang had sent to Malacañang and to several government agencies, including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). The complainants said they are afraid that their sources of water will be contaminated as the quarry operators are using some chemicals to easily remove the rocks from the ground.

Namasba leader also expressed criticism against the DENR officials because despite of the strong objection of the residents against the quarry operation in their place, the DENR had issued an ECC to them.