The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suspended all quarrying operations in Rizal province which were identified as major causes of flooding in Marikina City.
The DENR order came after Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go brought to the agency’s attention a resident’s complaint against the massive quarrying operations by mining companies.
Marikina City and the Municipality of Taytay are known low-lying areas are prone to flooding.
Go visited Marikina yesterday to check on the condition of residents in evacuation centers. In one of the relief operations Go attended, a resident asked him how government intended to address flooding, which usually occurs during heavy rains.
The resident raised the problem of quarrying in San Mateo and Montalban by mining companies which was a major contributor to flooding in the city.
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Go then promised to talk to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu to address the issue.
“Immediately, tomorrow I will talk to the secretary of DENR to check if that’s the main cause of flooding. We will address it immediately and I will get back to you right after I talk to the secretary. That’s a promise,” Go said.
As promised, Go spoke with Cimatu, who responded by suspending quarrying operations in Rizal, particularly in San Mateo and Rodriguez.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, for his part, instructed Mines and Geosciences Bureau Regional Director Samuel Paragas to coordinate with Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Noemi Paranada and EMB Director Engr. Metodio Turbella in issuing a joint stoppage order on the quarrying and crushing of plants in San Mateo and Rodriguez, Rizal.
