CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Records from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) revealed that as early as 2009 and 2010, the quarry operator who was identified as endangering bridges along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) by quarrying within the one kilometer restricted area has already been warned for various offenses.
But on April 25, 2011, Tokwing Construction Corp. was once again found by the MGB engaged in illegal quarrying along the Gumain River in Floridablanca town.
“Foregoing findings disclosed several extraction sites along Gumain River at the upstream of Gumain Bridge,” the MGB report said.
“Result of the investigation also disclosed actual mining/quarrying operations being conducted by Tokwing (D’ Prime Rock and D’ Cornerstone) in the area…,” the report added.
“…Tokwing (D’ Prime Rock and D’ Cornerstone) should be given stern warning to refrain from further conducting quarrying operation within the present pinpointed extraction site..,” the report concluded.
Then on May 6, 2011, MGB OIC Regional Director Danilo U. Uykieng in a letter to Tokwing enjoined the latter to “refrain from further quarrying operation within the present pinpointed extraction site” as the on-going dispute on the actual location of its permitted area has not been resolved.
Uykieng also gave Tokwing 15 days to explain in writing “why your company should not be legally charged and be imposed with appropriate administrative sanctions for operating a crushing plant without the necessary permits.”
Just five months later on October 3, 2011, the MGB conducted an ocular inspection on the alleged illegal quarrying operation in Floridablanca.
The MGB confirmed on-going quarry operations along Gumain River downstream of Apalit Bridge as well as another quarrying operation 100 meters away from the D’ Cornerstone Crushing Plant and an extraction site within the embankment of Gumain River which is within the restricted distance imposed by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) to protect the SCTEx Bridge.
The MGB said the “extraction site is the same site being pinpointed by personnel of Tokwing during the conduct of investigations” five months earlier.
The MGB report enjoined the Environment and Natural Resources Office of the provincial government of Pampanga (ENRO-PG) headed by Art Punzalan “not to issue DR/PTO Receipt to Tokwing using the desilting activity until such time that the desilting permit were issued to the applicant who has a MOA with Tokwing.”
The MGB also said “Tokwing (D’ Prime Rock and D’ Cornerstone) should be given stern warning to refrain from further conducting quarrying operation …as the location of the actual permitted area is not yet resolved.”
Tokwing was also advised to “secure the necessary permits and clearances for the operation of its crushing plants (D’ Prime Rock and D’ Cornerstone) prior to the resumption of its crushing operation.”
Then on December 20, 2012 or more than a year later, a memorandum report from the MGB found three extraction sites along the Gumain River one of which is being conducted by Tokwing in the area purportedly covered by the desilting permit of one Ricardo Manalansan which is again within the one kilometer restricted distance imposed by the BCDA to protect the SCTEx Bridge.
Herman Sumadchat, general manager of Palakol Quarry and Development Corp. (PQDC), alleged that Tokwing is still engaged in illegal quarry operation along the Gumain River.
Sumadchat clarified that his wife, Elvira Sumadchat is the one trying to collect from Tokwing and not PQDC.
He said the money his wife is trying to collect from Tokwing, which amounts to P10 million, is for the use of her Industrial Sand and Gravel Permit (ISGP) as evidenced by a MOA signed between his wife Elvira and Rey Manalansan.
Sumadchat also said that “PQDC cannot have any pecuniary benefit in any quarrying operation considering that its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) is technically cancelled but on appeal with the Court of Appeals.
He added that PQDC was not able to reach this commercial operations status because of roadblocks thrown its way which ultimately led to the cancellation of its MPSA.
Meanwhile, Engr. Reynaldo N. Manalansan, president of Tokwing, did not return text messages to his cellphone and refused to answer calls.
