Townspeople protest against quarrying site in Angono, Rizal

Townspeople protest against quarrying site in Angono, Rizal

A quarrying site in Angono, Rizal has earned the fury of the town residents for supposedly causing floods and dust-related illnesses, among other pressing concerns.

In Sunday's episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” Jessica Soho headed to Angono, Rizal to visit the quarrying site that has been operating for 10 years.

Quarrying is referred to as an extractive industry because it collects natural resources to be used by people. 

Before the quarrying site operated in 2015, there were houses built on the mountain in Sitio Labahan.

The mountain once stood high, but due to the quarrying explosions, it has since decreased in size. 

Aside from Angono, several towns in Rizal are the site of quarrying operations, 30 of which are registered. Most of these operate in parts of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range, dubbed Luzon's backbone when it comes to storms. As a result, the mountains lose their trees.

Based on Mines and Geosciences Bureau data from 2022, the mineral output and sales value for the province of Rizal reached 1.3 billion pesos

A high school in the area was closed because the students were affected by the dust and loud machinery. 

Meanwhile, the annex building of Dr. Vivencio Villamayor Integrated School was closed due to the pandemic, but continued to be out of use because the mountain behind it was cut off, thus posing danger for the students.

Residents complain that the dust from the quarrying site has been affecting their health. They would also get sick with coughs and colds.

Luzviminda said, “Pagka kasi nagpapasabog sila, pinapaalis nila kami rito. Pinapalikas nila kami.”

["When they are operating, they make us leave."]

Although warnings are issued, Luzviminda said that the blasting is deafening. Luzviminda added that one part of their home has cracks.

The recent typhoons also caused bad flooding, and the Angono river overflowed because quarrying debris caused a blockage.

A member of the Angono LGU said, “Hindi maiiwasan na ‘yung mga siltation pond nila, katulad ‘pag ganitong tag-ulan, umaapaw ‘yun at ito ay may mga silt.”

["It's inevitable that their siltation ponds, especially during the rainy season, will overflow carry silt with them.”]

“Dine-dredge namin every year to maintain ‘yung containment capacity para hindi mag-overflow. May silt kami na nakukuha. Kasi hindi mo maiwasan ‘yung water, ‘yung surface runoff. Kahit du’n sa planta nila, may mga surface runoff ‘yan kasi wala namang puno. ‘Di ba, mga open pit ‘yan. So walang ibang mapupuntahan ‘yan kundi sa mga tributaries.”

["We dredge every year to maintain the containment capacity and prevent overflow, but silt still accumulates. You can't avoid the water of surface runoff because there are no trees. It’s all open pits. So the water has nowhere else to go but into the tributaries.”]

Protests
Because of the nonstop issues due to quarrying, locals and the LGU called on stopping the operations.

The progressive group Bayan Rizal and the group of environmental advocates Protect Sierra Madre are highly against the quarrying in Rizal.

A Bayan Rizal representative said, “Tumututol kami sa mga ganyang mga quarry kasi po ‘yan, ‘yan ay malaking pinsang idinudulot sa mga mamamayan, lalung-lalo na po ang vulnerable, ‘yung mga mararalita.”

["We are against that kind of quarrying because it causes great harm to the people— especially the vulnerable and the poor."]

The representative added, “Tutol po kami diyan. Bukod pa riyan, nawawasak po ang kalikasan.”

[That's why we are against it. On top of that, it also destroys nature."]

The representative cited that the Sierra Madre is called the mother of mountains for a reason.

“Depensa po ‘yan sa kalikasan na siyang sumasangga sa panganib sa mamamayan. Mahabang panahon na po ang pagtatanggol ng Sierra Madre sa mamamayan. Ngunit bakit nila winawasak?”

["Sierra Madre is nature's defense. It shields people from danger. It has been protecting us for a long time. So why are they destroying it?"]

The KMJS team tried to get a statement from the mentioned quarrying companies, but they declined to give one 

The KMJS team reached out to the quarrying companies operating in the area to get their side, but they declined to provide a statement.

The Angono LGU also said that they oppose giving permits to quarrying companies.

“Kaya nga lang, ang kapangyarihan ng munisipyo, ng local government unit ay naka-confine lang sa Local Government Code. May mga national law na umiiral na hindi na po saklaw ng kapangyarihan ng ating pamahalaang bayan.”

["The powers of a municipality, as a local government unit, are limited to what is outlined in the Local Government Code. There are national laws in effect that go beyond the authority of our municipal government.”]

They added that if operations require more than five hectares, it has to be approved by the national government through the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

The DENR also pointed out that quarrying has its positive benefits, like gathering materials to build infrastructure and gives jobs to those who need it.

Group of environmental advocates Project Sierra Madre said, “Dahil nga nagkakaroon ng mga pagkasira, ‘yung mga bagyo na dumadaan ay unang humahampas doon sa mga nasirang parts, mga parte o bahagi ng Sierra Madre, kaya malaki rin ‘yung nagiging epekto doon sa mga adjacent na mga komunidad.”

[“Because of the destruction, the typhoons that pass through now hit the weakened parts of the Sierra Madre first, which greatly affects the surrounding communities.”]

The group added that quarrying is a tragedy done by real people.

“Sinasabi nga na new normal ng administrasyon pero tayo hindi tayo naniniwala na ang mga sakunang nararanasan natin sa mga nagdaan ay bagong normal dahil ito ay mga trahedya na totoong gawa ng tao,” they said.

[“The administration say it's the new normal, but we don't believe that the disasters we've experienced in the past are simply part of that. These are tragedies that are clearly man-made.”]

“At nakikita natin na ang quarrying ang isa sa maraming dahilan kung bakit marami ang nagkakaroon ng casualty, nagkakaroon ng pinsala sa ari-arian. Hindi yan dahil sa natural na malakas ang mga bagyo. May mas malalim pa na pinagmumulan at ‘yun nga ‘yung malalim na paghuhukay sa mga bundok ng Sierra Madre dito sa Rizal.”

[“We see quarrying as one of the major reasons behind the high number of casualties and the damage to property. It’s not just because the typhoons are naturally strong. There’s a deeper cause, and that’s the deep excavation of the Sierra Madre mountains here in Rizal.”] —JCB, GMA Integrated News