Press Release
September 26, 2018

CHIZ SAYS SUSPENSION OF QUARRY OPERATIONS TO WORSEN INFLATION

Sen. Chiz Escudero said a plan by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to temporarily suspend quarrying activities in eight regions will only undermine government efforts to manage the country's high inflation.

"Amidst the government's efforts to control inflation, here is a policy decision from one agency that will erase whatever little gains they have achieved at reining it [inflation] in," Escudero said.

The Bicolano lawmaker cautioned the government on the effects of the DENR's move on the prices of commodities, particularly construction materials, as this may harm the administration's massive infrastructure spending project under the "Build, Build, Build" program.

"The basic problem is this will have inflationary tendencies on cement and aggregates, and will impinge upon the administration's 'Build, Build, Build' project, not to mention that it's sweeping and clearly arbitrary," Escudero said.

Last September 21, the DENR released a memorandum suspending quarrying operations in Regions I, III, CALABARZON, V, VII, X, XI and XIII, following the recent landslide incidents in Itogon, Benguet and Naga City, Cebu, which have so far left 78 and 56 people dead, respectively.

Furthermore, the agency directed its regional offices to conduct an immediate safety inspection and geohazard assessment of the communities near mining and quarrying operations in their area to prevent a repeat of similar landslide incidents.

According to the DENR, the result of the safety evaluation will be the basis for the lifting of the temporary suspension.

Instead of hastily stopping the quarrying activities in all eight regions, Escudero said, the DENR should have conducted the safety and geohazard evaluation first since these mining and quarrying companies have already been granted operating permits by the department.

He also urged the DENR to address the problem as soon as possible by adding more teams that will inspect hundreds of quarrying sites all over the country.

"Magbuo sila ng singkwenta, otsenta, isandaan, dalawandaang inspection teams. Inspeksiyonin agad lahat sa loob ng isang linggo at kung sinong may violation, iyon ang ipasara. Pero wag namang ipasara agad habang hindi pa naiinspeksiyon. Mali naman yatang polisiya iyon," the senator pointed out.

He added: "Paano kapag inabot ng isang buwan, dalawang buwan, tatlong buwan bago na-inspect ang daan-daang quarry sites sa buong bansa? 'E di ganoon din katagal tataas ang presyo?"

Escudero further cautioned the public of the domino effect spawned by the possible shortage in construction materials, especially cement, as a result of the DENR suspension order.

"Alam mo naman dito sa ating bansa, kapag tumaas na ang presyo kahit bahain mo pa ng supply eh napakabagal bago bumalik sa dating lebel ang presyo. Kapag tumaas ang presyo ng gasolina o presyo ng bilihin, ang hirap nang ibaba o bumaba iyon matapos bumaba dahil nga sa domino effect na nangyayari," he said.

Also, the senator lamented the seeming lack of coordination among department heads, saying that the economic managers always take the blame for the actions of their counterparts in other agencies.

"Sana nagsasalita sa iisang boses ang ating administrasyon at hindi iyong iba-iba ang sinasabi ng iba't ibang departamento. Tuloy ang nababalingan ng galit at sisi ay ang economic team, na wala namang kinalaman dito sa binigay na kautusan ng DENR," he said,

Escudero also said that while he fully understood the position of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu to prioritize the safety of the communities near the mining and quarry site, he must also strike balance to mitigate the economic implications of his policies.

"Nauunawaan ko ang concern ni Secretary Cimatu sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan, pero dapat unawain at isipin rin niya ang domino effect ng kanyang mga ipinag-uutos sa ibang aspeto ng ating lipunan at ekonomiya," Escudero said.

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