Pampanga Times
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"Pampanga Times. Politics, Current Events, Headlines and Help Lines. Your premiere source for Kapampangan news. Malaus pu kayu!"
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
ARAYAT — The landslide that left 12 people dead in Barangay San Juan Baño here was caused by the unusual heavy volume of rain water and not by mining or illegal logging as alleged by local residents.
Citing a report by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive director Ricardo Calderon told Sun.Star that a heavy volume of rain water had caused the mountain soil to soften, eventually leading to the landslide.
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“There are no mining activities in the area. The fact is we have been implementing plans for massive reforestation,” Calderon said, dismissing earlier claims by residents on the existence of illegal logging and reports of mining activities in the area of the Mt. Arayat National Park.
Calderon also clarified the community that was affected by the landslide is not within the jurisdiction of the national park, a statement that is contrary to claims of local authorities here.
Mayor Luis Espino earlier said the houses affected by the landslide were within the area of the national park.
Calderon said the national park is under the supervision of both the DENR and the local government unit (LGU) here.
Some residents here said there have been treasure hunting activities in the area.
“They have been holding diggings in the area, some people here say they even heard blasts,” one resident who refused to be named said.
According to residents, the treasure hunting activities have been perpetrated by people from outside of the community.
Asked if this was true, Calderon said they were able to apprehend treasure hunters last February.
“There was a record of a treasure hunt but that was before and any such activities are no longer in existence,” Calderon said, adding that the national park is a protected area and such activities are not allowed.
The MGB and the DENR, Calderon said, are still coordinating efforts to study the potential danger posed by the collapsed area to other communities here.
