Negros Occidental Board Member Andrew Montelibano said today, February 8, that he has asked the Provincial Environment Management Office to put together a technical team to assist him in ensuring that quarry operators in the province are complying with requirements to ensure the protection of the environment.
Montelibano, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Environment, is set to conduct inspections of quarry operations in northern Negros Occidental following recent floods that are suspected to have also been caused by illegal quarry operations.
The board member said he has received reports of numerous illegal quarrying, including in Manapla town. If the weather permits will begin his inspection of such activities this week, he said.
The PEMO technical team will be able to determine if violations have been committed, especially to embankments, he said.*