Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research (INECAR)

Ateneo de Naga University, Naga CIty
 
Position Paper No. 2
Prioritize the protection of the town of Sogod and barangays located along the banks of Subang Daku River, Sogod, Southern Leyte
  I. Background
  In a recent study conducted by the INECAR in May and September, 2002 in Subang Daku River System including its upstream sources, the findings show that:

1. The town of Sogod and other barangays are within the floodplain, thus are always endangered of flooding

2. The process of gravel and sand deposition is made possible by a combination of various geologic and rainfall events

3. Unregulated quarrying and rechanneling, including misunderstood river processes caused the rapid flow of water downstream and facilitated the siltation of Sogod Bay

4. The destruction of the road in San Miguel area was due to No. 3. because of the resulting fragmentation of the river channels

5. Changes in the river dynamics as a result of No. 3 contributed to the rapid siltation of Sogod Bay thereby affecting its fisheries and ecological relationship with Subang Daku


I Background

In June 9, 1993, the DPWH recommended to the then Provincial Governor Oscar Tan, for the rechannelling of Subang Daku river in order to “redirect the flow of water straight to the bridge (Subang Daku Bridge) waterway” (from official communication by Regional Director Ajero, 1993). In July 13, 1993, a permit was granted to Shemberg with the “objective of rechannelling the meandering Subang Daku River, thereby protecting the existing infrastructure, the lives and properties of Sogodnons” (Shemberg Marketing Corporation write-up dated January 23, 2002). Rechannelling was commenced shortly after. In 1998, a group of Sogodnons complained about the destruction in the river allegedly due to the quarrying operations of Shemberg. Supporting papers in 1998 backed the continued rechannelling operations of said company, thus quarrying and rechanneling activities were resumed.

Shemberg-Rockland Marketing Corporation was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Regional DENR – 8, through the Mines and Geosciences, Region 8, to conduct quarrying operations in Subang Daku, Sogod Southern Leyte. Although the ECC allowed them to extract 60,000 cubic meter per year (ECC granted by DENR Regional Executive Director Augustus L. Momongan on June 25, 1993), some sectors in the local community believe that what was extracted was more than this amount (See Figure 1). For instance, it was alleged that small operators and local residents also collect sand and gravel and sell them to Shemberg. In addition, on June 5, 1998, MGB-Region 8 issued a renewal of permit (SAG No. IP-98-011) to Shemberg Marketing Corporation (SMC) allowing it to extract 350,000 cu.m for 5 years, renewable for the same period and volume (Report prepared by Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Quezon City, p. 4, no date provided). This amount has increased by 10,000 cu.m. annually. Aside from Shemberg, there were also other operators that extracted SAG such as Reeline Commercial Aggregates and Mr.Gaudencio Ang (Mines and Geosciences Bureau report p. 3, no. date).
 
Figure 1 left shows the small piles of gravel (pointed by a yellow arrow) allegedly collected by some local residents and sold to Shemberg. (picture taken in May, 2002 by Dr. R. G. Regis)
  On December 12, 2001, Typhoon Nanang brought heavy rains causing bank erosion and damage to a road in San Miguel area (Figures 2A and 2B).
 
 

Figures 2A (left) and 2B (right): Destruction of a portion of the road in Barangay San Miguel last December, 2001 during torrential rains causing stronger and rapid water current of Subang Daku river. (pictures provided by SSDM. The picture on the right was retrieved from a video documentary of Dec. 2001)
  Shemberg however denies responsibility for the destruction. It reports that its total concession area is only 19 hectares which occupies about 2 kilometers of the river and that its “upstream boundary is located near the concrete structure, at the bend of San Miguel and is approximately 300 meters downstream of the newly collapsed road pavement”.

On December 15, 2001, the Save Subang Daku Movement (SSDM) requested for assistance from the people hearing mass at the local church during the celebration of the town fiesta. In response, the INECAR research team visited Sogod in May 20-23 and September 2-3, 2002 to investigate the alleged impacts of quarrying in Subang Daku. Some of the local residents, the SSDM in particular, feared that the cause of the destruction of a portion of the road in Barangay San Miguel was quarrying. They were also worried that the present destruction is a prelude to a larger destruction that will affect the town of Sogod itself and adjacent villages when the rainy and typhoon season comes.

This report will provide explanation to the extent of the problems of Subang Daku and its surrounding villages including the town of Sogod. It will explain how quarrying, rechannelling, and natural processes such as rainfall events as well as the dynamics of rock formation and erosion, can endanger human settlements, infrastructures and farmlands.
  Back to Table of Contents II. The Findings III. Conclusion and Recommendation
       
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