Legazpi City mayor seeks suspension of quarrying around Mayon

LEGAZPI CITY—Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal on Friday (Nov. 6) asked Albay Gov. Al Francis Bichara to suspend quarrying at five villages at the southern flank of Mayon Volcano.

Rosal, in a letter to Bichara, said residents of the villages are fearing for their lives and worry about damage to property as they were at risk from the hazards of quarrying around the volcano.

Villages threatened by lahar, a mix of volcanic debris and water, are Mabinit, Bogna, Matanag, Buyuan and Padang. These were all at the volcano’s lower slope some 8 km from its summit.

In his plea, Rosal cited an order by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to suspend all quarrying around Mayon after lahar and flooding brought damage to villages at the height of Supertyphoon Rolly (International name Goni) last Sunday (Nov. 1).

An inspection made by the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office showed that lahar descended at the village of Matanag at the height of Rolly.

Residents were blaming quarrying for the flooding and lahar flow.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod, or city council, would conduct an investigation.

A task force from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has arrived in Albay to investigate as well.

TSB