Filtered By: Topstories
News
CEBU LANDSLIDE

Quarry firm: No quarrying but road development near landslide site


Apo Land and Quarry Corporation claimed there were no quarrying operations at Sitio Tagaytay, Barangay Tinaan in Naga, Cebu but there was a road development at the area near the barangays hit by a fatal landslide on Thursday.

"To set the record straight, para po kasi sa amin, when we say operation, it is actual quarrying. Iyong pagkukuha po ng raw materials. Ito po yung klinaro natin kahapon sa committee," Chito Maniago, Apo Land representative, said at a press briefing Friday.

"Kagabi rin po sa meeting [we said] that there is no actual quarrying involved but meron pong movement, may tinatawag po na site-road development... Ito pong access road development, it involves equipment," he added.

Apo Land has earlier been quoted as saying it owns mining rights where the landslide happened but has yet to start quarrying in the area.

Maniago said that they will investigate claims that a certain Rmy Ikot and Nonoy, who worked for Apo Land, had assured them a landslide will not occur in the area for the next 20 years.

But when their men observed cracks in the area, Maniago said they immediately coordinated with the local government to assess the situation.

Naga, Cebu Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong asked the Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 7 to investigate the cracks, which the bureau eventually declared were caused by a natural phenomenon.

Chiong still issued a cease and desist letter on August 29 ordering the complete stoppage of mining operations, small-scale quarrying, gravel extractions, and other activities pending MGB-7's full assessment.

Maniago said Apo Land is saddened by the incident that has killed at least 21 and will cooperate with any investigation. — Rie Takumi/MDM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT