Capitol halts ALQC quarry operations

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has ordered Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) to cease and desist from all its quarry operations within its Mineral Production and Sharing Agreement (MPSA) areas in the City of Naga for one month while an environmental audit will be conducted.

The governor issued executive order (EO) 22 directing ALQC to stop its “earth-moving operations” after it was observed that their continued operation is an “apparent disregard of the safety” of the people living within and near MPSA areas.

The Capitol finds it necessary to have an environmental audit, a comprehensive area risk assessment, and the determination of the carrying capacity of the MPSA areas after a preliminary risk assessment was made.

MPSA is a type of mineral agreement wherein the government grants a contractor a right to mine within, but not little over, in an area.

In the said agreement, the government shares in the production of the company, and in return, the contractor provides technology management, financing, and personnel for the mining project.

“Pending the environmental audit, comprehensive area risk assessment and determination of the carrying capacity, and under the precautionary principle in environmental law, general welfare clause (section 16 of RA 7610), the principle of parens patriae, the Provincial Governor can take measures in order to prevent imminent harm, damage, and injury to the environment and/or human health and safety under Republic Act. No. 10121,” reads part of Executive Order number 22 series of 2024, issued by Garcia on Monday, December 2.

The order will be in effect for 30 days or one month starting December 3. The Capitol’s move is to prevent any incident that may happen just like what happened on September 20, 2018, when a massive landslide happened within and or near the MPSA areas of ALQC in Barangay Tinaan, City of Naga killing at least 77 people and damaged 57 houses.

Garcia directed the local government unit of the City of Naga, Philippine National Police, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) to strictly implement her order.

The governor likewise ordered ALQC to cooperate in the conduct of environmental audit, a comprehensive area risk assessment, and the determination of the carrying capacity of the MPSA areas. ALQC is operating in several barangays in Naga, including Tina-an and Pangdan. The company supplies limestone for cement, greywacke, and clay. — (FREEMAN)