RESIDENTS of Zone II, Zone IV, and Barangay Sinuron, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur protested on Wednesday, Dec. 4, against Horizon Concrete Products Corporation’s quarry permit renewal in parts of Pilan River in Zone II.
The company is set to renew its five-year Industrial Sand and Gravel (ISAG) permit from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Dec. 13.
Horizon Concrete Products Corporation is a family business owned by former Sta. Cruz Mayor Jaime Lao.
Prior to the renewal, the company is required to meet with the involved barangays for a consultative meeting to obtain their approval.
However, in the supposed consultative meeting on Wednesday, residents refused to approve the renewal, as ongoing quarry activities have been contaminating the water source.
The meeting turned into a day of protest after barangay officials from Zone II, Zone IV, and Barangay Sinuron, which have jurisdiction over the Pilan River, rallied behind the protesters against the company’s quarry activity renewal.
The barangay chairman who had already petitioned against the quarry activity prior to the protest on Wednesday firmly refused the renewal.
Myla Garcia Arellano, Zone II Barangay chairman, expressed sympathy for residents who are deprived of a clean water source due to the daily quarry activity of Horizon.
Arellano also emphasized that the Pilan River had been declared an ecotourism destination, which should be “preserved at all costs.”
Juniper Solamo, Zone IV barangay chairman shared the same sentiment as Arellano, claiming that the ongoing quarry activities have been “contaminating the residents’ water source.”
“Mga tao diri, nagreklamo na gyud kay wala na silay tubig mainom, unya kung manglaba, dili na pud nila magamit kay lubog naman pirmi ang tubig,” Solamo said.
Sinuron barangay chair, Orlando Rivera, for his part, expressed sympathy with the Indigenous People (IP) in the area, composed of Bagobo Tagabawa.
Matanam Edmundo Q. Udal, Bagobo Tagabawa Elder Council member strongly disagreed with the renewal, as the quarry “destroys their market” and a source of food.
Cherry Casimero, Hugpong Farmers’ Riverside Association member and a vendor at Cawa-Cawa River Resort, raised concern that if the quarry is renewed, their source of income will be affected.
“Maguol lang mi basig abot sa panahon, maabot na diri amoang sapa ang pag-backhoe nila ug madaot na ang sapa, mulubog nas ang tubig ug basig delikado na sa mga maligo,” Casimero stressed.
Hearing all the sentiments and complaints, Sta. Cruz Mayor Jose Nelson “Tata” Sala sided with the people over the company and vowed to further investigate the company’s activities and scrutinize their permits.
The mayor claimed that the documents presented by Horizon were “anomalous”, as the initial permit submitted to the local government contained no date, followed by another permit with a date attached.
Elsa Montecillo, Horizon Concrete Products Corporation plant administrative officer, asserted they have the necessary permits from the MGB.
“Adtoa nalang ninyo sa MGB sa Davao para makita ninyo kung illegal ba among gina buhat,” she said, defending their operations.
Montecillo’s document is the same permit that Sala showed to the local media.
