Ombudsman to summon Janiuay execs, environment officials on Suage bridge issue
The government's anti-graft body has now officially started a fact-finding mission aimed at setting the records straight on the quarry activities in Janiuay, Iloilo. Such, alongside efforts to effect preventive measures on the 'quarry-aftershocks' here feared to cause the possible collapse of the historic Suage bridge.
Top investigators were sent to the area by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Visayas that signaled the start of the fact-finding probe. From a "Request For Assistance" (RAS), the matter is expected to be elevated into a formal complaint where administrative and criminal liabilities, if any, are to be ascertained.
Till then, focused of the investigation is on the quarry site within the stretch of Suage river in order to gather more information on the issue.
Serious concern has since been raised by town officials in Janiuay with a call for moratorium on the quarry activities here.
With a battlecry to "Save the Suage bridge, save the Suage river," town officials have joined hands with the locals particularly affected barangay residents.
Soc Abonado, town councilor and chairman of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources stands as one of the main proponents of the Suage river protection and rehabilitation.
"Our voice, our sentiments seem to be falling in deaf ears until the Ombudsman came. We hope that finally there can be something positive out of all this. All we want is for our resources not to be depleted, the bridge protected and the people, lives of thousands of commuters out of harm's way," Abonado said when reached for comment by The News Today (TNT).
No less than Deputy Ombudsman Pelagio Apostol ordered the ocular investigation who told local media in a recent visit, "Baka mag-collapse... let us not wait for it to happen... our concern here is the issuance of quarry permits..."
In what appears to be a moto propio move for the government's anti-graft body, the team sent in the area started groundwork. This, amidst concerns of possible collapse of the historic Suage Bridge, the bridge foundation now suffering tremendously the huge impact of downstream quarrying here.
No time frame has been set though on the said fact-finding probe. Yet TNT learned from sources that top officials of Janiuay alongside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were sent letters by the Ombudsman. A five-day reply period was given that called for the concerned authorities' say on the matter up for investigation.
To recall, unified action has since been sought by town officials on the plight of the Suage Bridge, a ten-tonner bridge built during the war and now serves as principal link of Janiuay to and from elsewhere in Panay. Located at Barangay Jibolo, it stands as the one and only passage of all other commuters with a conservative estimate of at least 2,000 in private and public transport passing through daily. The buses of the national government's "Strong Republic Nautical Highway" program are some of the regular sights here and ten-wheeler trucks too with heavy load.
TNT in an earlier report gathered that significant changes on the foundation of the bridge were noted early this year and said to have worsened in the past months. Yet locals said massive quarrying has been going on for years now with Janiuay as the main quarry site for the multi-billion new airport in Cabatuan-Sta. Barbara area.
Intervention of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) has since been sought as well with several municipal council Resolutions passed.
Board Member Celia Colada, native of Janiuay was first to express her concern while backing up colleagues in the Janiuay Municipal Council "for the unified battle to save the Suage River and save the Suage Bridge from further destruction."
TNT in an exclusive report obtained documents confirming initial findings of a government response team sent to check the bridge's condition. Said report did state that downstream quarrying is one of the stated principal causes of the damage.
Mayor Ben Margarico then 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.