By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — The Antique Provincial Board is set to convene a management council that will look into the preservation, protection and development of all river systems in the province.
On Thursday, the provincial board approved ordinance No. 2019-182, or the “The River Systems Management Ordinance of the Province of Antique” creating the River Systems Management Council.
Provincial Board Member Egidio Elio, who sponsored the ordinance, said the creation of the council is necessary because of the problem of quarrying in the riverbeds of the province.
“We are a little worried about the quarrying operations in the riverbeds of Antique that we need to have some regulations put in place so that our natural resources, the sand and stones, will not be depleted,” Elio said.
He said rampant quarrying is also the problem in Iloilo, Cebu and in other places, prompting local officials to declare a moratorium.
“The natural resources being quarried in Antique are being supplied as construction materials to other provinces like Iloilo and even in Palawan that we need to put some regulations,” he said.
Among the functions of the council would be to develop the provincial river systems management plan and to review and harmonize local legislations to be in conformity with the national policies.
It will also regulate issuance of business permits to natural or juridical persons who seek authority to conduct operations within the recognized river systems of Antique.
The council will also regulate water diversion and water extraction in the river systems of Antique and recommend solutions to ensure continuous water supply to ensure food security.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal will sit as executive chairperson of the management council while Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao will be the honorary chairperson.
The members of the council are the Department of Public Works and Highways Antique District Engineer, Department of the Interior and Local Government provincial director, tourism operators and head of the quarry operators in Antique.
“The barangay officials, as an added function for them, will form the Task Force Kasubaan (River) which will monitor the quarry operations in their areas,” he said.
