Massive quarrying blamed on feared collapse of major Iloilo bridge
Longtime massive downstream quarrying in the once rich Suage River is feared to eventually cause the collapse of the historic Suage Bridge in Janiuay, Iloilo.
With heightened concerns now aired by town officials led by Mayor Bienvenido Margarico, a call for help and immediate intervention has been made to environment officials. This, as temporary solutions have been implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) here if only to reinforce the foundation of the bridge.
The News Today (TNT) in an exclusive report obtained documents confirming initial findings of a government response team sent to check the bridge's condition. Said report stated that downstream quarrying is one of the stated principal causes of the damage.
In fact, locals in the area reported to the mayor and municipal officials the unusually strong vibrations felt every time light or heavy vehicles and trucks pass the bridge. Said observation has been felt in the past weeks with residents living close to the bridge saying "tremor-like shaking" were also noted.
Mayor Margarico in a TNT interview said he wants the concern resolved as soon as possible particularly since two recent quarry permits were renewed by the Capitol again. Worse, the mayor pointed out, in spite of the fears expressed by Janiuaynons, the permittees were still granted go-signal with no consultations made to his office.
"Who will be blamed once that bridge collapse? Who will be blamed now that our resources here have been depleted? It's not them in the Capitol but us here. And who will suffer most than us, people of Janiuay?," Mayor Margarico decried.
TNT learned that among the first concerns brought to the Mayor's attention upon assuming recent post after the May polls was the grave situation in Suage River and Suage Bridge.
As such, the Mayor was among the main attendees in the June 26th public hearing called by the town's Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.
Chaired by Councilor Francisco "Soc" Abonado, the committee gathered key officials from the DPWH, the municipal, provincial and regional environment officials and local stakeholders.
Rogelio Barreto, an Eco-System Management Specialist for 20 years in said hearing acknowledged the difficulties faced by local government units (LGUs) particularly on quarry permit issuance by the Capitol.
"You should let them know you are opposing the grant of the permit," Barreto's statement went as per hearing's discussions.
Downstream quarrying, he also explained to the body was indeed a problem in Janiuay.
"The allowance of 1 kilometer downstream and upstream is not enough to protect our structure. Actually, the riverbeds are composed of loose sand and on top of that are stones. The natural thing to happen is that this will be eroded downstream because of quarry operations. Whatever volume extracted will be replaced by volumes of sand and gravel upstream. This will happen gradually. This is one reason why the foundation of Suage River Bridge is already exposed. In order that this thing will be mitigated, operations of quarry concessions downstream of the bridge will be stopped. Quarry operations upstream may continue," Barreto in his statement before the June Committee hearing said.
Immediately after the Committee heard all discussions, Mayor Margarico issued Executive Order No. 2007-61 reorganizing the town's Task Force "Sagip Kalikasan."
One of the primary functions of the task force is to monitor the illegal extraction and transport of land resources to and from Janiuay.
"We have seen the problem that's why we want to protect our resources. There was one instance wherein the Sanggunian Bayan recommend commercial quarry, it became industrial when approved," Mayor Margarico in his concerns told the Committee. "It appeared that the barangays and the municipality are not consulted anymore. You know this matter has become a political thing. We will be the ones who will suffer the consequences later. We don't want to have pretensions."
Board Member Celia Colada, president of the Philippine Councilor's League (PCL) - Iloilo Chapter backed townmates' sentiments. TNT learned that moves are underway to seek SP action and intervention on the Suage Bridge and Suage River concern.
"We are really very worried about it. We want it to be taken cared of immediately and for the quarry activities here duly regulated," Colada told TNT when reached for comment.
Some 2,000 vehicles pass daily through Suage Bridge. Built by American forces back in 1930s, Japanese soldiers later followed suit and built twin watchtowers here.
Changes in the foundation of the bridge were noted early this year and said to have worsened in the past three months. Yet locals said massive quarrying has been going on in the past years with Janiuay as the main quarry site for the multi-billion new airport in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area.