DENR orders suspension of quarrying activities around Mayon Volcano

MANILA, Philippines — Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has ordered the suspension of quarrying activities around Mayon Volcano in Albay.

During key government officials’ meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening, Cimatu also announced the suspension of at least 11 quarry operators’ activities in the province.

“I directed the suspension of all these 11 or 12 operators, including suspending quarrying operations, around the volcano, habang meron pang sumusunod na mga typhoons para naman ma-prevent itong mga maaaring mangyari ulit,” Cimatu said.

(I directed the suspension of all these 11 or 12 operators, including suspending quarrying operations around the volcano, while there are still typhoons coming to prevent this from happening again.)

GRIM AFTERMATH Residents of Travesia village, Guinobatan town, Albay province, survey the devastation wrought by the typhoon, which sent lahar flowing and boulders cascading down the slope of Mt. Mayon that swept away and buried houses in their path. —MARK ALVIC ESPLANA

“Some of these operators left their stockpiles in the middle of these rivers. Kaya nung bumaba ‘yung tubig, malakas, dala-dala ‘yung lahar pati ‘yung mga stockpiles nila doon, boulders, ay kasama na,” he added.

(Some of these operators left their stockpiles in the middle of these rivers. That’s why when the water cascaded, it brought lahar, also the stockpiles, and even boulders.)

Cimatu warned that DENR will shut down quarrying operations if firms are proven to have caused the landslide of volcanic ash in Albay amid Super Typhoon Rolly’s brunt.

KGA

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