CENRO stops ‘illegal’ quarrying

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City’s Environment and Natural Resources Office has issued a cease and desist order against three illegal quarrying operators in the mountain barangays.

Office of the Mayor environmental consultant Nida Cabrera said the quarry operations started even without the issuance of a permit from the Mining Regulatory Board.

She identified them as Luzviminda Diano of Sitio Binaliw 3, Barangay Binaliw; Elena Codeniera of Baragay Pulangbato; and ARN Builders in Binaliw.

Cabrera said the CDO that was signed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña would only be lifted after the operators have complied with all the requirements.

She said there are at least six other operators under review by the mining board for the possible issuance of the CDO for the same offense. She, however, declined to name the six.

She admitted that illegal quarrying has been a problem in the city as it has been ongoing in the mountain barangays.

“Not all times naa ta sa area.  Hangyo ta sa barangay nga mo-monitor gyud sila kay limited ang atoang tawo.  Nighttime man gud kasagaran mo-operate sila para walay makasakop nila. Wala tay mga tawo nga na-assign sa gabii, then primary responsibility na sa barangay,” Cabrera said.

She was thinking of having the city’s mining ordinance to address this.

“Dapat naay recommendation nga i-ammend ang mining ordinance sa siyudad. I-categorize ang permits like development ra ba or small scale quarry,” Cabrera said.

Before the mining board issues a permit to an operator, it should inspect the area to make sure no violations are committed.

Upon applying, the operators should submit a detailed plan of the project to CENRO and the mining board so that the two offices would know what the application is all about.

Cebu City’s Environment and Natural Resources Office has issued a cease and desist order against three illegal quarrying operators in the mountain barangays.

Office of the Mayor environmental consultant Nida Cabrera said the quarry operations started even without the issuance of a permit from the Mining Regulatory Board.

She identified them as Luzviminda Diano of Sitio Binaliw 3, Barangay Binaliw; Elena Codeniera of Baragay Pulangbato; and ARN Builders in Binaliw.

Cabrera said the CDO that was signed by Mayor Tomas Osmeña would only be lifted after the operators have complied with all the requirements.

She said there are at least six other operators under review by the mining board for the possible issuance of the CDO for the same offense. She, however, declined to name the six.

She admitted that illegal quarrying has been a problem in the city as it has been ongoing in the mountain barangays.

“Not all times naa ta sa area.  Hangyo ta sa barangay nga mo-monitor gyud sila kay limited ang atoang tawo.  Nighttime man gud kasagaran mo-operate sila para walay makasakop nila. Wala tay mga tawo nga na-assign sa gabii, then primary responsibility na sa barangay,” Cabrera said.

She was thinking of having the city’s mining ordinance to address this.

“Dapat naay recommendation nga i-ammend ang mining ordinance sa siyudad. I-categorize ang permits like development ra ba or small scale quarry,” Cabrera said.

Before the mining board issues a permit to an operator, it should inspect the area to make sure no violations are committed.

Upon applying, the operators should submit a detailed plan of the project to CENRO and the mining board so that the two offices would know what the application is all about. (FREEMAN)