Construction boom a major boon to local quarry industry

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    CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The boom in the country’s construction industry has become a big boon to this province’s coffers amid reports that its income from quarrying has reached almost P1 billion since last June alone.

    The provincial environment and natural resources office (PENRO) reported a total income of P915,810,000 from tax collections from gravel and sand quarry operations in the province.

    PENRO noted that the provincial government is expected to be a major beneficiary of the growth in the construction industry which is projected to grow faster than the six to seven percent economic target set by the government for 2013.

    PENRO cited a report from the construction market research firm BCI Asia describing this year as the “birth of new construction” for the Philippines with projected P1.18 trillion worth of projects which is 264 percent growth compared to the previous year.

    It also noted projections from the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. (PCA) that the country’s construction
    industry this year expects to grow eight percent or faster than the economy, with public and private sector projects seen giving the sector a boost.

    The PCA, it said, noted better prospects both in the country and abroad with the construction industry growing faster than the six to seven percent economic target set by the government for 2013. “Moreover, it is expected
    that public construction will continue to boost the sector in the next three years as the DPWH’s rally will be sustained to garner more than P600-billion capital outlays by the end of 2016,” the PCA report said.

    Pampanga is a major source of quality sand for construction nationwide. “The provincial government’s income from quarrying since June covered sand and gravel fees, weighing scale fees, anti-overloading fees and accreditation of other vehicles,” PENRO said.

    Gov. Lilia Pineda set a target of P3 billion for quarry income for her second threeyear term. PENRO officials said it is finding ways to further improve quarrying operations and its system of collecting quarry fees.

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