By Nonoy E. Lacson
Pagadian City – National and provincial agencies have joined forces to form a task force that will properly address the rampant quarrying of sand and gravel in major rivers in Zamboanga del Sur.
Governor Antonio Cerilles yesterday said the task force will help the province monitor and eventually file appropriate charges against those engaged in illegal gathering of sand and gravel in major rivers of the province.
The creation of the task force was agreed upon in a meeting recently attended by members of the Provincial Development Council (PDC), the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC), Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PAFC), and Provincial Environment Council (PEC) of Zamboanga del Sur.
Among the major rivers that are being watch by the task force are the Sibugay, Kumalarang, Dinas, Salug, Usugan, Labangan, and Guitan rivers.
Cerilles said the “task force which we have just formed will help the province government address the rampant quarrying of sand and gravel in major rivers here.”
He said the task force will make sure that Provincial Ordinance No. 024-2018, otherwise known as “The Riverbed Management, Preservation, Protection, and Rehabilitation of Zamboanga del Sur, will be properly enforced.
“This illegal quarrying of sand and gravel must put to a stop in order to preserve our environment and prevent floods during heavy downpour of rains,” Cerilles said.