The Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) of Negros Occidental visited Pampanga to conduct a benchmarking activity and study the quarry industry in the Province of Pampanga.

Special Assistant to the Governor (SAG) and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Angelina Blanco supervised the work, along with officials from Kapampangan a Lulugud and Matapat (KALAM), Provincial Treasurer’s Office (PTO), Provincial Legal Office, and Pampanga Quarry Operators Association.

According to Blanco, quarrying is one of the main sources of funds for the Pampanga Provincial Government to carry out its health, education, and social programs.

“Despite the massive destruction brought on by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption, Pampanga was nevertheless able to transform this tragedy into an opportunity to recover from the aftermath through the effective management of the KALAM, the dedication of the PTO in the collection of taxes, and the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan through its ordinances,” said Blanco.

Among those discussed in the benchmarking activity are the permitting, licensing, monitoring, and collection systems of quarries in Pampanga. Pampanga provincial administrator Atty Charlie Chua also attended the event. (Pampanga PIO)