TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) — The officials of Batanes province have requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to allow the Ivatans to quarry within their territorial waters for the construction of their resilient houses and the rehabilitation of facilities damaged during the series of typhoons last year.
During the visit of Environment Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, the provincial officials, led by Governor Marilou Cayco, discussed people’s issues and concerns, particularly their request to take aggregates from their seashores for construction purposes.
Under Republic Act 8991, or the Batanes Protected Area Act of 2000, quarry operations for aggregates, limestone, coral, sand, or other quarry materials without a permit are strictly prohibited.
Loyzaga said the reason she visited Batanes was to see and understand the unique situation of the island province and to address the environmental issues affecting it.
She committed to the officials to take appropriate actions to the requests of the Ivatans.
“DENR is committed to ensuring the protection of Batanes’ natural resources and environment while ensuring unhampered development,” she said.
She also responded to the request of Governor Cayco to expedite the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) applications of the provincial government to fast-track the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure facilities from the series of typhoons last year.
In March 2024, Loyzaga issued a memorandum to all regional offices and field operations nationwide to strictly monitor existing structures and carefully study ECC applications for projects within protected areas. (OTB/PIA Region 2)
