Report by Andres Mapa
Farmers led by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) – Negros held a dialogue with Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) in Bacolod City yesterday to forward their calls to end the various quarry operations in Silay City, Negros Occidental.
“The quarry operations need to be stopped immediately since the small farmers’ livelihoods are at stake,” KMP Negros said in a statement.
According to the group, the forest-clearing entailed by such quarry operations have caused frequent flooding over the farmers’ crops and livestock during the rainy season.
The farmers claim they still have not recovered from the severe flooding they experienced back in January, and they continue to suffer as their plot of lands remain a pathway for water whenever it rains.
Rowena Parcon, head of PEMO, asserts the legality of such quarry operations since the contractors have complied with all the necessary documents.
However, the farmer group decries the Barangay’s lack of prior consultation or public hearing with the small farmers in the area before the approval of such quarry operations.
Prior to the dialogue, the group had also tried to reach out to Silay City Mayor Mark Golez and yet no action was made to heed to the calls of the farmers.
The five quarry operations that have been implemented in the area are owned by prominent businessmen in Negros, particularly Jerry Sy’s Silver Dragon, Juan Miguel Gomez, Emilio Jose Gaston, Perseus Causing, and Sandra Encarnacion Sisip.
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Paghimutad 