Trucks with illegal sand and gravel seized

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) seized last Monday three dump trucks and one loader containing sand and gravel reportedly quarried illegally in an area in Asturias, Cebu.

When the members of PENRO and the Provincial Security Unit checked the delivery receipt of the trucks, it was found that the quarried sand and gravel was sold to Asturias Mayor Alan Adlawan.

During her last day in office as provincial governor last July, current 3rd district Representative Gwendolyn Garcia issued a permit to Adlawan’s Balamban Construction Ltd. Co. to haul sand and gravel.

The permit, which is valid for five years, allows the extraction of 1,000 cubic meters of sand and gravel materials for commercial purposes but only in areas authorized under Ordinance No. 2008-10 of the Province of Cebu, which are Barangay Biasong in Balamban and Ubogon in Asturias, covering an area of 35,816 square meters.

Loy Madrigal, provincial head of security, explained that Adlawan’s company can haul quarried sand and gravel but only in the areas owned by GEO Transport and Construction where Balamban Construction Ltd. Co. buys sand and gravel.

Madrigal said that the men operating the truck claimed that they were told by the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources (MENRO) that the location where they were caught hauling sand and gravel was within GEO Transport’s area.

However, Madrigal said they are certain that the location where the seized trucks were caught was not GEO Transport’s area, as indicated in their Global Positioning System (GPS). He added that GEO’s property, where sand and gravel is quarried, is in the upper portion of the area and is far from where the trucks of Adlawan were seized.

Madrigal said this is the third time that trucks owned or rented by Adlawan’s company have been seized.

The Freeman asked Adlawan to comment on the matter but the mayor declined to give a statement.

Madrigal, however, said that in a previous operation where they seized a truck from Adlawan’s company, the mayor reportedly stressed that he does not tolerate such illegal activities and that he would reprimand workers who may have made the mistake.

The Provincial Ordinance that regulates the quarrying of sand and gravel provides that trucks will be confiscated when caught with illegally hauled sand and gravel and will only be returned to the owner upon the payment of the penalty of P10,000 per truck. Second time violators will be fined P20,000 per truck while the third time offenders face impounding of their trucks. Owners of the trucks may also be charged in court due to the violations.  

The truck seized last Monday was reportedly carrying 10,000 cubic meters of sand and gravel, valued at P15,000 per truck, said PENRO chief, Atty. Chad Estella.

Apart from the trucks in Asturias, Estella said they were also able to seize trucks carrying sand and gravel in Toledo and Balamban from different owners.

This is part of PENRO’s strengthened operations against illegal quarrying in municipalities in the province, said Estella.

Madrigal advised owners of trucks who haul sand and gravel to supervise their operations to ensure that they will only do so in areas covered by their permits. — /QSB (FREEMAN)