Rama vows to stop Lhuillier's quarry in Barangay San Jose

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he is willing to issue a Cease and Desist Order against the ‘quarry’ operation of businessman Michelle Lhuillier even if the latter is a friend to the city government if the City Mining Regulatory Board can present strong reasons why it should be stopped.

Rama said he will wait for the recommendation of the board that is yet to convene today. M. Lhuillier has been very supportive to the city. In fact, the company spent millions in 2009 for the beautification of the Fuente Osmeña Park and the repair of the fountain.

It was also responsible for the decorations of the Fuente Osmeña Park during Christmas season.

Rama said that the issue isn’t about the personality but the protection of the environment. The mining board discovered two weeks ago the extraction of filling materials without permit inside the M. Lhuillier Farm and Park in Barangay San Jose.

M. Lhuillier allegedly violated the conditions of the hauling permit that the board issued to the company. M. Lhuillier was only issued a permit to haul 1,000 cubic meters of loose soil that is supposedly the result of a site development.

However, it was found out that the operation has already extracted about 38,400 cubic meters of filling materials based on their records at 10 cubic meters per truck since they started operation.

The volume extracted could reach 61,440 cubic meters because the board said each truck has a capacity of 16 cubic meters but the haulers only declared 10 cubic meters in the delivery receipt which is another violation.

Lawyer Bayani Atup, counsel for M. Lhuillier, denied the allegations saying that based on their own records they have not exceeded the 10,000 cubic meters granted to them.

Atup said that the in-charge in the hauling operations told him that they have only extracted 7,000 cubic meters since they started operation. He said the city government was wrong in its claim that their permit is only good for 1,000 cubic meters.

Atup said they applied for 10,000 cubic meters and paid the necessary fee amounting to P300,000.

He questioned the move to issue a CDO saying their operation does not pose any threat to the community.

“Why will the mayor issue the CDO when there is no threat to the community,” Atup said.

The City Planning and Development Office earlier confirmed that M. Lhuillier has not secured yet a site development permit.

M. Lhuillier applied for a site development, specifically for road and drainage construction, at its Farm and Park in Barangay San Jose but it remains pending.

Members of the board inspected the area two weeks ago and last Saturday and found out that the damage in the area is already beyond site development because a huge portion of the hill is already gone.   - (THE FREEMAN)