• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The provincial government of Negros Occidental is considering tapping commercial contractors to speed up the clearing of volcanic materials that have clogged waterways in La Castellana.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has sought a special permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow commercial contractors to participate in the clearing operations at the Tamburong Creek in Brgy. Biak-Na-Bato in La Castellana.
Lacson said that several private contractors have expressed interest in extracting the lahar materials.
He admitted that using government-owned equipment is not enough to fast track the clearing operations, which are hampered further when there are heavy rains.
By tapping commercial contractors, Lacson said he just wants to hasten the clearing of lahar residues.
Charlie Fabre, DENR officer-in-charge Regional Executive Director for Negros Island Region, disclosed on Wednesday that the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park has formally requested the DENR central office to grant Governor Lacson the authority to issue a special permit for the immediate clearing of the affected waterways in La Castellana.
Fabre said that a proposed resolution was agreed upon during the PAMB Resource Management Committee meeting on September 16, which seeks to empower the governor to expedite the removal of volcanic materials from the Tamburong Creek, which has been identified as a critical measure to prevent potential flooding and mudflows that could endanger downstream communities.
The proposed resolution is expected to be deliberated by the PAMB during its meeting on Sept. 25 at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City.
The special permit would also grant the governor the authority to manage the utilization of sand, stone, and moulding stones extracted during the dredging process for rehabilitation and reconstruction projects within La Castellana.
Lacson said that commercial contractors would be required to pay fees to the provincial government for the materials, similar to quarry operations, but limited to lahar extraction.
“This is not the same as quarrying. This is specifically for lahar. Of course, the provincial government will charge them,” the governor added.
At present, the volcanic sediment being removed from the creek is transferred to the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), which is within the protected area, for proper disposition.
Local government units are racing against time to clear about 28,000 cubic meters of volcanic deposits from the creek, as they are being confronted by occurrence of heavy rains, which washes down the more stockpiled debris to the waterways.*
