PDRRMC wants authorities to

probe quarry-landslides link

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, (PIA)—With the noticed landslides and land displacements that have happened in the towns bordering Garcia Hernandez, where large-scale quarry operations are ongoing, Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said, the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) is seeking investigations to see if the mining operations has anything to do with the landslides.

During the recent typhoon Tino post disaster assessment and typhoon Uwan pre disaster risk assessment, the PDRRMC in mass motion, has called for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources specifically its Mines and Geo Sciences Bureau (MGB) to see if there is any connection between the landslides that happened in the slopes of Mount Matunog, where some 300 meters at iyts base, are populated dwellings of sitio Balikbayan.

The large-scale quarry operations, operated by Philippine Mining Services Corporation (PMSC) has permits for the rights of 400 million tons of limestone reserves.

Mining by open-pit quarry, PMSC owns a Mineral Processing Permit No. 002-2000-VII which was renewed on January 9, 2025 by the MGB and runs until January 8, 2030.

However, casual observers of the highway-visible scarred mountains, would not miss the traces of water flow from the quarries, possibly flowing to the natural gullies and emptying into the Manaba River, which empties through the town.

Below the quarry, in Barangay Candanas, reports circulated through the social media revealed land cracks and fissures that could indicate issues in the subbase.

Similar cracks and land slips are also reported in nearby Anonang Valencia, and Cantuyoc in Jagna, barangays that are on the slopes of tall mountains shared by Gacria Hernandez.

Residents believed the saturated soil due to the continuous rains brought by Tino has loosened the cliff and gave way.

The landslide in Mayana is about 10 kilometers from the quarry site in Garcia Hernandez.

In his announcement which he posted on his social media page, Gov Aumentado said the council want to know from the experts if these incidents are connected.

In these times when everyone flaunts their expertise in whatever topic is presented, the council apparently deems to get it rather from a trusted source than over a self-proclaimed expert sharing a centavo worth or wisdom. (PIAbohol)