Quarry activities in Pampanga resume

Following the lifting of a ban on quarry operations in several provinces, the local government of Pampanga said quarry activities in the province have resumed.

The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported Governor Lilia Pineda confirmed on Monday the resumption of quarry operations over the weekend.

“We are happy and of course, we are thankful that Secretary Cimatu listened to our appeal not to include Pampanga in the suspension order,” Pineda was quoted in the report as saying.

It can be recalled Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Roy Cimatu suspended quarry operations after a fatal landslide in Naga City, Cebu. However, he lifted the suspension several days after in areas deemed safe.

Pineda noted that her province is not a landslide prone area, with no mining activities there, the PNA report said.

The governor also pointed out the quarry suspension affected the government’s “Build, Build, Build” project at the New Green City in Capas, Tarlac. She added that since Pampanga is the project’s source of sand, it’s construction might possibly be delayed.

It can be noted the province transports thousands of trucks of sand to other areas across the country.