City beefs up quarry checkpoints vs threats
AFTER reports that Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) collectors manning checkpoints for quarry trucks entering the city during nighttime were threatened by armed men, the city has deployed security forces to guard the checkpoints.
During the council’s session last Tuesday, May 22, 2018, City Councilor Danny Dayanghirang brought up his findings that threats have scared off the collectors, thus denying the city its due fees from quarry operations.
“We do not know yet [the identity of the armed groups] but the Cenro personnel are afraid to stay there alone in the checkpoint so usually they abandon it. That is where the trucks are coming in and out,” said Dayanghirang who was present during the Kapehan sa Dabaw press conference yesterday, May 28.
Right after the session, Dayanghirang said Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio ordered additional personnel to help man the checkpoints.
“The directive of the mayor is to strengthen and intensify the presence of Task Force Davao and the police to assist the CENRO checkpoints. They are doing that now,” Dayanghirang said.
Because of the absence of tax collectors at night time and the implementation of truck ban on specific time of the day, Dayanghirang estimated half of the supposed to be quarry truck tax collections have been lost.
Currently, there are CENRO checkpoints in Buhangin, Paquibato, and in the third district that already have security per-
sonnel. Dayanghirang said there used to be only one CENRO tax collector in each checkpoint hence the vulnerability of being threatened. He also said the barangay personnel are not that efficient in securing the checkpoints, sometimes even susceptible to corruption themselves.
“We will be getting reports direct from the police how many are apprehended. I have to check with them because the order was [made by the mayor] just last Tuesday immediately after the session. We are very glad about it,” he said.
Davao City has 53 quarry operators operating with permits and are subject for renewal. However, aside from these, there are still illegal quarry operators without necessary permit that are doing business in the city. This, he said, is what they are also currently monitoring aside from the security threats made with the tax collectors.