Mines bureau to stop white sand extraction in San Francisco town

The Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources yesterday said it will issue a cease-and-desist order to the municipality of San Francisco in Camotes Island for allegedly allowing residents to extract white sand particularly in southern Poblacion.

Engr. Roger de Dios, MGB-7 director, said he sent a team of investigators from his office last Friday to verify the reported ongoing white sand extraction in San Francisco. In a report made by MGB investigators, it was revealed that there is indeed an ongoing “small-scale” white sand extraction operation in the area.

“Duna may municipal resolution ang San Francisco, Camotes pero illegal man gihapon na kay only the DENR Secretary thru the recommendation of the regional director of DENR can issue special permit para sand quarrying,” De Dios pointed out.

However, De Dios refused to comment on whether the municipal officials have usurped the function of the DENR by passing a resolution allowing the white sand extraction in southern Poblacion.

De Dios is set to forward a letter asking the municipal government to discontinue white sand extraction along the shoreline of Poblacion.

Meanwhile, MGB-DENR also issued a cease-and-desist order to Tabagak barangay captain Julius Villaceran of Bantayan Island and businessmen Alex Chiong, Wellington Lim, Tito Escario and Jeffrey Cantillas for their alleged involvement in illegal quarrying operations there.

The complaint was phoned in by Integrated Bar of the Philippines environmentalist-lawyer Antonio Oposa.

All five were advised to secure a clearance from the Protected Area Management Board-Bantayan Wilderness Area.

“Commercial scale marine sand extractions in the subject area have reportedly been going on at an increasing rate the past 20 years or so, and although there had been no technical studies conducted insofar as the effects of these quarrying activities, adverse environmental impact should not be discounted and or taken for granted,” Edgar Lagarnia, chief of the monitoring and technical service section of MGB-7, said.

“Marine sand extraction should be totally and permanently stopped. This should also apply to all offshore areas surrounding Bantayan Island,” he added. — Ramil V. Ayuman/MEEV