Kapampangans urged to oppose quarry ordinance (Sun.Star, Friday, October 26, 2007)

Kapampangans urged to oppose quarry ordinance

By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A political war is in the air as Governor Eddie Panlilio, backed by various civil society groups, has launched a massive signature campaign to repeal the ordinance.

"We must not let politicians do their way just like that, we must get involved in the governance in this province. The time to act is now," Averell Laquindanum of Capampangan Marangal told the people who attended the consultative meeting at the Bren Z. Guaio Convention Center last Wednesday.

Laquindanum, along with other civil society groups, urged the people to seek the repeal of Ordinance 176.

The ordinance stemmed from a proposal submitted by Pampanga Mayors' League (PML) president and Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda last August 28, and further supported by a resolution signed by 19 other mayors of Pampanga on September 20.

The Provincial Board (PB) approved the proposed ordinance recently via a 10-0 vote. The controversial quarry ordinance seeks to abolish administrative fees collected by the Provincial government from the quarry collection. It also gave more powers to mayors in monitoring sand hauling.

Panlilio vetoed the ordinance but the PB overrode his veto, also through a 10-0 vote. The issue is to be brought to the court.

Fr. Resty Lumanlan, on the other hand, assailed the mayors in the towns with no quarry operations for signing Lubao's proposal.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit yung mga meyor na yan ay pumirma, alam naman nila na mapeperwisyo ang mga constituents nila. Ang nakakapagtaka pa, bakit ngayon pa lang na maganda ang koleksyon ng quarry sila nagkukumahog na makakuha ng malaking share. Ang nakakapagtaka pa tahimik ang mga yan noong talamak ang maling pamamalakad noong nakaraang administrasyon," said Lumanlan, who is director of the Porac Foundation Incorporated (PFI) and a staunch whistleblower of quarry violations during the time of the Lapids.

Panlilio, for his part, urged the hundreds of people who attended the consultative assembly to sign a petition to repeal the ordinance. "We are prepared to meet this ordinance in court, but people who are affected by this ordinance must not remain silent," the governor added.

The priest-turned-governor's networks of supporters have floated the petition papers across the province. They are expected to complete the signature gathering against the repeal of Ordinance 176 by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Panlilio said civil society groups could file complaints against the PB before the Office of the Ombudsman.

"In a few days time, civil society groups will file the cases," the governor said.

"Our main problem now is how we'll be able to give the salaries of those manning the quarry operations. Our services programs may also be jeopardized," he lamented.

Capitol records show that almost 200 people are employed in the quarry operations in the sand-rich towns of the province.