Sand Quarry - Role of Brgy Quezon

Can you see the mounds of sand? These are "legally" quarried from our beloved Lake Mainit!


The issue is now becoming clear.

Sand quarrying is allowed because operators have permits from the Barangay Office of Quezon, from the Municipal Office of Mainit, and even from the Provincial Office of Surigao del Norte.

Read entire post...

Our Bantay Danao, our Barangay Tanods, and Municipal Police are not monitoring to STOP the quarrying! They are ther JUST to ensure that quarrying IS constrained within the PERMITTED sites!!!

I got a response from Barangay Quezon related to my earlier post where I insisted that Quarrying is a Battle We can Win!
With the given reply, I can now sympathize with the barangay government as I understand why the problem still do proliferate. As a barangay, and with tanods armed only with batuta, where most of the operators and quarry workers are either friends of relatives, Quezon cannot fully implement the sand quarrying policies. The barangay officials and policy enforcers also cry for support from the municipal government especially from the police force. They hope that with police authority backing up the tanods, more illegal operators and workers can be apprehended.

With this, the Pidjanga Blog would like to join the call for the municipal government to ensure police presence in the area and implement the quarrying policy. Mayor Ramon and Vice Mayor Banoy... we hope that this issue has reached your respective offices, and that something is being done.

But while I understand the limitations of barangay's capacity, I do not completely agree that they can not do something. If there is political will to protect and conserve our beloved lake, this can be done. They can intensify education campaigns and empower the local community to do the policing themselves. If the tanods lack the weapon, why not the power and pressure of the people do the work.
Make noise about it, let the perpetrators know that you are against them, and show them that you are serious!!!
Again, I enjoin everyone to this cause. Let's conserve and preserve Lake Mainit... let it remain a living lake for our children and grandchildren. Let us be caretakers of this God's beautiful gift... the Philippines' deepest and cleanest lake!

Go and tell... STOP the illegal sand quarrying in our town!

Post: Zimmbodilion (www.pidjanga.blogspot.com)
Feb 16, 2008

Sand quarrying continues in Mainit

Should we send a complaint now to the Green Courts??? For God's sake, something needs to be done!!! Citizens of Mainit, SPEAK!



Last August 28, I blogged about this. Here's the excerpt:

Took photos of the actual sand quarrying in the Panayakpan Area and the "destroyed" lake shore left by this illegal and unregulated practice.

I have taken photos and shown these to Councilors Nonong Behagan (Environment and Tourism Committee Chair) and Roxie Salino (Peace and Order Committee Chair) who promised to take action via legislation. Fr. Rey (Catholich Church) and Pastor Casera (UCCP) also showed support in addressing the problem. Fr. Rey will make a homily on this.

This is just in front of where our Bangkal trees were planted. I feel so disgusted seeing parts of the lakeshore holed due to quarrying.


And the sand being transported. I was told that they can have several trips within one hour.

I think I will stand corrected on saying that this is "illegal". I was told the the quarries have official permits.

Post: Zimm (www.pidjanga.blogspot.com)
Jan 16, 2008

2013-2016 LGU OFFICIALS - 2013 COMELEC RESULTS

MAINIT, Surigao del Norte
CARAGA, Philippines

MAYOR
Mondano - 8,237
Japay - 5,725

VICE MAYOR
Mondano - 7,602
Mozar - 5,836

Councilors:
1. Behagan - 6,808
2. Roxie - 6,727
3. Recabo - 6,385
4. Garrido - 6,142
5. Lynda Mozar - 6,043
6. Canangca-an - 5,813
7. Gatpolintan - 5,771
8. Mantilla - 5,501

29 Election Returns
COMELEC

2010-2013 LGU OFFICIALS - 2010 COMELEC RESULTS

The official results of the 2010 Local Elections, Mainit, Surigao del Norte
Source: COMELEC's ibanangayon.ph

(Click image to enlarge)

Others:

Pidjanga notes: The Pidjanga Blog Poll of 13-19 April 2010 (HERE) almost perfectly predicted the distribution of votes for the mayoralty race. Re-electionists Mayor Mondano received 56% in the Online Poll and in the actual elections, he got 53% or 7,323 votes. Looking at the 2007 statistics where he got only 6,232 (HERE), those who voted for Mayor Mondano actually increased by more than a thousand.

Voter's turnout is actually higher by a thousand too. There were around 13,000 voters in 2007 (HERE), and as you can see above, 14,115 Mainitnons went out to cast their votes in 2010.

The poll also predicted well that to win a councilor's post, aim at least 5,000 votes. However, the poll's topnotcher Mano Nelson Reyes did not make it to the magic 8 (he placed only 9th!), instead 10th placer Michael Mozar topped the actual elections. Of those predicted to win, only Thaddeus Reliquette and Nelson Reyes failed to win. They were replace by Anthony Urquia and Fely Odtojan.

Post: Zimmbodilion (http://www.pidjanga.blogspot.com/)
May 15, 2010

Help me track the health budget of Mainit

The 2008 NATIONAL budget was signed into law by President Gloria M. Arroyo last Wednesday, 11 March 2008, with infrastructure projects and social services cornering a significant portion of the P1.227-trillion outlay in a bid to enable the country to weather an expected global economic slump.

The Department of Health budget increased by 100%. The challenge is to ensure that this flows to the provinces and municipalities... that this flows to the health system of our town!

If you are interested, please email me [here], so that I can share with you the 4-9 steps of being involved in health budget tracking.

Help our people exercise their right to health... be involved! Salamat daan!

Post: Zimmbodilion (www.pidjanga.blogspot.com)
Mar 14, 2008