THE BAN on small-scale quarry operations across Cebu has been lifted by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), except for those in the town of Carmen, where cracks in a site have been found, and in Naga City, where there extensive landslides in September that killed more than 70 people. PENRO head Jayson P. Lozano said the technical opinion of a geologist and other mining experts will be sought, including necessary corrective measures, before deciding on these two areas. While the ban has been lifted in most parts of the province, PENRO said it continues to monitor the implementation of corrective measures to neutralize potential hazards. In Talisay City, PENRO suggested to QM Builders to implement a “benching method” on their quarry site to mitigate the risk of having a disastrous landslide. The firm is given 90 days to address the issue. Some families residing near the quarry site in Barangay Lagtang have been evacuated. — The Freeman

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