KALIBO, Aklan—Kalibo Mayor William S. Lachica officially ordered the stoppage of the ongoing testing of the planned dredging operation at Bakhaw Norte, Kalibo.
“I have to stop the planned dredging, since I have received numerous complaints from the residents that they are opposing the project,” Lachica said.
The Sangguniang Bayan of Kalibo (Kalibo Consultative Council) also endorsed a resolution opposing the project.
Lachica said the STL Panay Resources Inc., the company involved in the dredging, also failed to complete to submit the required papers for their operation.
Kalibo Councilor Daisy Briones said she was informed that the STL Panay Resources has yet to apply for a business permit to the local government of Kalibo prior to the dredging.
Briones said STL Panay Resources executives met with the local council members several times already for a dialogue. Despite these meetings, the STL has yet to get the council’s nod for the project.
STL Panay Resources Project Engineer Roger Vergara said they already had the approval both from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Aklan Provincial Government.