The people in charge of quarry operations in the province are one in saying that this unique feature of the provincial landscape will remain a profitable and legitimate undertaking that will fully benefit the people of Pampanga.
This was the unanimous commitment pledged by Filologo Rodriguez, head of quarry operations; Eduard de Leon, area supervisor; and Floriano Rivera, consultant, taking off from the avowed desire of the Governor Lilia G. Pineda to make quarry operations as clean and honest, as productive and beneficial to Kapampangans as possible.
Income from quarry operations from July 01 to 16 totaled P12,975,000.00, a figure the quarry officials are comfortable with, especially since the several days of rains brought by Typhoon Basyang during the period caused a slow down in quarrying activities. Also, Rodriguez added that the income from quarry operations would depend on the need for quarry materials which would sometimes tend to change.
While the provincial government would want a considerable income from the quarry operations, Rodriguez claimed that it also puts a premium on instituting clean, honest and corruption-free transactions.
The Governor, according to K.A.L.A.M. officials, has emphasized her administration’s desire to continue the quarry operations in the most efficient and honest manner possible. This means, Rodriguez explained, that no cheater or violator gets away scot free from his offense, toward ensuring that the income of the quarry operations is given back to the people of the province by way of projects and other benefits.
“Zero anomaly is what we aim for and we have instituted measures towards achieving this goal.”
These measures include the orientation of checkers in three batches sometime in June; emphasizing to them that there is no room for corruption, bribery, or drinking while at their post; and the continuous monitoring and field checking that the officials conduct.
To date, there are a total of 195 checkers who are mostly college graduates, 15 shift supervisors, four assistant supervisors, three area supervisors, one consultant, one head of operations, one administrative officer, four administrative aides, and one general services man.
They work in such major areas of operations as the towns of Porac, Floridablanca, Bacolor, Mabalacat, and Mexico while most towns in the fourth district only have minor quarry operations.
De Leon, area supervisor, said that they are using the same system used by the previous administration but “we are more active in monitoring possible illegal activities such as illegal quarrying, overloading, no quarry permit or hauling pass, inappropriate behavior on the part of checkers, etc.”.
He added that in dealing with violators, the new administration will be “without mercy for violators, full of consideration but without anything being sacrificed, including environment concerns”.
Rivera offered the information that there are more than 100 quarry operators in the province. He also assured those interested in quarrying or developing their land into becoming more productive sites, that the provincial government shall help facilitate the processing and issuance of permits.
“Among our immediate plans is to interact with mayors and barangay captains to seek their cooperation and assistance in ensuring the smooth and efficient operations of the quarry sites,” Rivera revealed.
The three – Rodriguez, Rivera and De Leon – are optimistic that they will attain their goals for K.A.L.A.M.
“The provincial officials are very supportive of our efforts and are determined to make this flagship program a true reflection of its name – K.A.L.A.M – a Kapampangan word which means “grace”, “blessing” in English and “biyaya” in Filipino – an outpouring of blessings for the constituents of the province.
