Senator Imee Marcos reiterated her stand against the proliferation of illegal quarrying in Laguna.
Marcos noted that while the quarrying industry is a huge contributor to the country’s infrastructure development program, environmental concerns brought about by unchecked quarrying operations should not be overlooked.
Quarrying activities in the province include excavating building materials such as gravel and sand, known as aggregates.
Marcos said that while the quarrying industry remains a vital component of the economy, regulations must be strictly enforced, said Marcos.
She said the provincial government and LGUs should impose strict regulations on the use of barangay, municipal, and provincial roads by trucks carrying quarried products.
Marcos also emphasized that contractors should use their respective funds to conduct research on the sediment influx of their quarry operations to determine its contribution to the siltation of the Laguna de Bay.
“We had lapses in planning. Actually, we’re a little late. I wish we had prepared a little but the Department of Science and Technology has been telling us to reprimand us for a long time and we don’t want to believe what they said last year,” the senator said.
Marcos said this lack of concrete plans led to the “suffering” of Filipinos.