Decreasing fish population, noise and dust pollution, and damaged roads are just some of the woes of the communities in south Negros where quarrying operations are active, a study from the Diocese of Kabankalan said.

The study, titled “Increasing Public Understanding of Natural Resource Governance by Promoting Transparency and Accountability in the Small-Scale Mining Sector in the Province of Negros Occidental”, presented yesterday in a gathering at Sugarland Hotel in Bacolod City, said that among the 21 sites where quarry operations are present in the sixth district, 10 issues and concerns were raised, research associate Mary Ann Dagunan said.

The study, which was funded by the United States Agency on International Development, was conducted by the Diocese of Kabankalan and the Central Philippine State University starting January this year.