50 cubic meters of illegally extracted sand seized from trucks

CEBU, Philippines – The 12 trucks reportedly transporting extracted materials from the Mananga Watershed Area in Talisay City and from some parts of Minglanilla and Naga rendered an estimated total volume of 50 cubic meters of alleged illegally extracted sand and gravel.

Together with the National Bureau of Investigation and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, the Bureau of Mines and Geosciences-7 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources flagged down the trucks coming from the Mananga Watershed last May 28.

MGB-7 regional director Roger de Dios said that the team facilitated the apprehension and seizure of the 12 truckloads of sand and gravel when they found out of the absence of proper transport documents, “recycled” delivery receipts, non-filled out entries in the delivery receipts, and illegally sourced materials within the supposed protected area of the Mananga Watershed.

The trucks were turned over to PENRO-Capitol which imposes a larger fine based on the Cebu Revenue Code. It was learned that the operators of the confiscated trucks will be slapped with a P10,000 fine per violation and that cases will also be filed against them by the NBI for violation of environmental laws.

“There is no respite in our campaign against violators of environmental laws, particularly mining laws as some local officials, especially barangay captains, failed to enforce and implement these,” de Dios said.

According to him, the extraction of sand and gravel materials within the Mananga Area is a clear violation of Republic Act 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.

In compliance with DENR Secretary Lito Atienzas’ declaration of 2009 as a law enforcement year, DENR is pursuing a more strict campaign against violators of environmental laws. – AJ dela Torre/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)