Apo Land denies quarrying in Naga

The Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) has started clearing operations in areas in the City of Naga that were hit by last month’s deadly landslide.

It is not quarrying or hauling, contrary to claims by some residents, who were alarmed when they spotted ALQC’s haulers and other heavy equipment removing debris from the landslide site and bringing this to the Cemex Naga plant.

“Sige nalang na sila’g pangubkob. Naunsa naman na sila uy (They’ve been digging. What are they doing?)” one resident, who asked not to be named, told SunStar Cebu earlier this week.

SunStar Cebu sent a team to Sitio Tagaytay on Friday, Oct. 26, to check the area and confirmed finding trucks and heavy equipment there.

But Jehan Repollo, acting head of the City of Naga’s Environment and Natural Resources Office, told SunStar Cebu the “hauling operations” were part of ALQC’s hazard clearing operations in landslide-affected areas.

“Dili man siya quarrying; stabilization activities man ilang gibuhat didto (They’re not quarrying; they’re conducting stabilization activities),” he said.

Repollo said quarrying is still banned in the City of Naga, as the executive order of Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong signed after the landslide is still in effect.

Chito Maniago, ALQC corporate communications manager, said they started clearing operations in Sitios Sindulan and Tagaytay in Barangay Tina-an earlier this week after Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu approved their hazard clearing plan.

“We need to stabilize the area as large debris, such as boulders and rocks, poses risk if we don’t intervene,” Maniago said.

He denied they are quarrying the debris and are using the limestone in their plant.

“We are throwing the debris in receiving areas identified by the MGB (Mines and Geosciences Bureau),” Maniago added.