THE ILOILO provincial government is mulling the suspension of quarrying in rivers that are in danger of destruction due to excessive operations by implementing a moratorium on the issuance of new permits, Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. said. The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) of the Western Visayas Regional Development Council has reported that several river systems are in critical condition and might result in the destruction of public infrastructures like dams and bridges. “Dams and bridges are in danger of collapsing if we do not attend to excessive quarrying on rivers. Because if you continue to extract sand and gravel, the rivers deepen,” Mr. Defensor said. A second inter-agency meeting was held last week to discuss the matter. It was attended by representatives of the National Economic and Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Public Works and Highways, and the National Irrigation Administration. Mr. Defensor said the province is looking at moving towards mountain quarrying. As of August 2016, there were 61 quarry permit holders under the following classifications: ordinary earth — 35, limestone — 20 and basalt — 6. — Louine Hope U. Conserva

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