Four trucks transporting limestone and sediment were intercepted by Talisay City police in barangay Lawaan II, Talisay City at 9:45 p.m last Thursday.
The confiscation of the trucks was led by Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes who said the limestone came from barangay Lagtang-Campo 4 where a road widening project is being implemented by QM Builders Construction.
Chad Estella, acting chief of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), said the company, which also operates in barangay Jaclupan, Talisay City, failed to present special waste disposal and hauling permits.
“Kay wala mana permit diay, mismo ang barangay officials pwede kaayo mo dakop ug magpa hunong sa operations (Because it has no permit, then the barangay Officials can immediately apprehend the trucks and halt operations),” Estella said.
Delos Reyes said he heard reports from sources that the limestone hauled by the company from the project site would be sold instead of given to the barangays that need it for building projects. “Every haul would cost P1,200,” the mayor said.
At the Talisay City police precinct, the drivers presented a hauling permit supposedly signed by Regional Director Ador Canlas of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
But Estella said the DPWH does not issue hauling and waste disposal permits.
Aside from this, he said the operators exceeded the allowed volume of limestone to be transported.
QM Builders Construction supervisor Willie Abatayo said they were in a hurry to dispose of the limestone out of concern for the safety of motorists.
He declined to comment on reports that they sell the limestone.
City Councilor Danny Caballero said the road- widening project received so many complaints from nearby residents who said it aggravated flooding since the DPWH imposed an alternative route that had motorists pass by a nearby river.
“Kung init abog ang ilang atubangon unya kung uwan lapok pud (When the weather is good they had to deal with dust and when it rains, residents and motorists are bogged down by mud),” Caballero said.
He recounted an incident in which a motorist passing by the area got hit by a falling stone and died on the way to the hospital.
“The reason why we need the permit is so safety measures can be done to avoid accidents,” Estella said.
Estella said the barangay where the hauling operation is done can demand a share of revenue from the sale of limestone.