MGB ROII Conducts Sand and Gravel Extraction IEC in Penablanca

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-ROII), represented by some staff of the Mine Management Division, conducted dialogues with barangay officials on August 13-15, 2019 in selected barangays of Peñablanca to discuss and address issues and concerns regarding Sand and Gravel extraction. This activity is in fulfillment of its Communication Plan targets. The dialogue in Penablanca, Cagayan comprises barangays Sisim, Nannarian, San Roque, Aggugaddan, Callao Proper, Malibabag and Quibal.

Engr. Geoffrey Prado leading the dialogue in Barangay Hall of San Roque, Penablanca. In the audience are BLGU officials and representatives from MENRO, and PNREO- Cagayan (Bantay Quarry Operation). Engr. Prado refreshed them that Peñablanca used to be an awardee of the Most Responsible Municipality – Non-metallic Category of the Philippine Mineral Resources Development and Utilization Program in Year 2004 and wishes the town to revive their good practices.

Among the municipalities in Cagayan, Peñablanca has its own Municipal Ordinance on Quarry Operations because of the rampant sand and gravel extraction in the town. There is widespread Quarry Operation because of the rich sand and gravel quarry resources offered by the Pinacanauan river. And so, prior to the open forum wherein issues and concerns are gathered, the Municipal Ordinance was discussed first. Among the issues that surfaced during the dialogue includes removal of sand stockpiled in the middle of the Pinacanauan river, to strictly enforce maximum 2.0m excavation depth for backhoe, and to follow the allowed quarry operation time which is from 8AM-5PM and no extraction during weekends and holidays.

Aside from MGB-ROII, representatives from government agencies like EMB, PNREO- Cagayan (Bantay Quarry Operation), MENROs also attended the dialogue as topics on Zero-waste management in Sand and Gravel Extraction and Collection and Manning of Checkpoints were also tackled. Also, Quarry operators and concerned citizens were welcomed to participate in the said activities. #bridgetgruiz