Bontoc folks hit illegal sand, gravel extraction along Chico River

>> Monday, September 20, 2021

Heavy machines extract gravel and sand along the Chico River in Bontoc, Mountain Province

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC Mountain Province -- Some 50 residents here at Barangay Eyeb petitioned the Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office here to stop illegal sand and gravel extraction along the Chico River by some private persons. 
Following this, barangay chairperson Evelyn Padong of purok Eyeb and chairman Joseph Toyokan of Barangay Samoki were asked by the ENRO to provide names of persons who are illegally extracting and stockpiling sand and gravel along the Chico River within their jurisdiction so these would be issued stoppage orders following a meeting by the Provincial Natural Waterways Clearing Task Force.
    Illegal extraction activities near the Chico Karayan Jumbo Bridge are being done on both sides of the river near barangays Samoki and Eyeb.
    Samoki and Eyeb is where the Jumbo bridge is located which links the two barangays and connects the Bontoc- Banaue Road.
    In their petition letter forwarded to officer in charge Sabas Gayadon of the provincial ENRO, petitioning residents said reclamation activities “impedes the flow of water endangering the lives and properties of people beside the Chico River”.
    Stockpiled sand and gravel “cause the diversion of the river water flow to one side of the river,” petitioners stated. “This causes grave concern among residents specially so when the water swells endangering the residential areas therein.” Reclamation and stockpiling of sand and gravel had been going here for quite some time along the Chico River.
    Extraction activities herein had been reportedly attributed to the weakening of the columnar posts of the jumbo bridge and led to the construction of a new one three years ago.
    The old jumbo bridge was temporarily closed following the onslaught of typhoon Lawin in 2016. The newly constructed bridge was opened last year.
    Environmental studies note that “excessive instream sand mining is a threat to bridges, river banks and nearby structures. Sand mining also affects the adjoining groundwater system and the uses that local people make of the river.”
    Despite laws which provide for the non-extraction of sand and gravel near public structures however, illegal activities have been unabated .
    The Philippine Mining Act of 1995 provides that “no extraction, removal and or disposition of materials, shall be allowed within a distance of one kilometer from boundaries of reservoirs established for public water supply, archaeological and historical sites or any public or private works or structures, unless the prior clearance of the government agency concerned or owner is obtained.”
    Mountain Province provincial ordinance No 101 series of 2010 provides that “no person, corporation, partnership of local government unit may extract sand and gravel and any quarry resources from any public, land or public waters without first securing a quarry permit from the Provincial Governor and no extraction or quarrying shall be done within 100 meters from any public work
Illegal structures built within the easement of the Chico River are also a concern of local folks.
    Owners of structures within the easement were given 30 days by said task force to dismantle their structures two years ago.
    To date, structures are still visible within the easement area.
    It was learned that structure owners near the stockpiling sites have allegedly sold or rented said sites to contractors.
    Provincial ordinance 314 series of 2018 provides “every person who shall extract sand and gravel and quarry resources shall secure a permit from the provincial governor and any persons who violate any of the provisions of this ordinance or the rules and regulations shall upon conviction, be punished by not less than P1,000 nor more than P5,000 or imprisonment of not less than 1 month nor more than 6 months or both at the discretion of the court.”.
    Despite violations of said laws, no person had been charged nor fined of illegal extraction of sand and gravel along the Chico River or for building illegal structures along the river. 

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