Novallas weary of Capitol

Elected officials of Barangay Novallas acting on their constituents’ collective sentiment have grown tired over the repeated dismissals by Governor Emilio Macias II and Provincial Attorney Erwin Vergara of their demands for the immediate halting of quarry activities in Novallas River.

They are now exploring other ways to force the provincial government to act favorably on their demand for the immediate stoppage of quarry activities in Novallas and the concreting of their barangay roads. Atty. Vergara has maintained that Governor Macias cannot just revoke the permits granted to private contractors adding that a number of construction projects of the government will be delayed not to mention the loss of income for those working in the construction sites.

However, the barangay officials are indignant that the Capitol has chosen to ignore their demands, which were clearly expressed in a barangay resolution unanimously approved by all members of the Sanggunian.

For now, Novallas residents feel that they have been forsaken even by their own mayor who refused to lift a finger to convince Macias and Vergara that after more than ten years of massive extraction of sand and gravel the sites and their immediate environs need some relief and rehabilitation.

They wondered aloud if the Capitol is more concerned over the livelihood of about twenty people and not the welfare and well-being of nearly 7,000 Novallas residents.

The Novallas electorate hinted that they will express their collective dissatisfaction against the administration on Election Day even as they call upon former Department of Natural Resources Secretary Dr. Angel Alcala, Silliman University President Dr. Ben Malayang III, Vice-governor Jose “Petit” Baldado, Vice-mayor Nilo Tam and other environmental groups to look into their plight and come to their succor.