4 quarry operators ordered to cease

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama issued a Cease and Desist Order against four quarry operators who are allegedly extracting and hauling sand and gravel without the necessary permits.

The CDO was issued to Barangay Kalunasan Captain and contractor Nunilon Monares for the alleged quarrying in upper Kalunasan, Elena Codeniera and Remegio Oyao for the alleged illegal extraction in Barangay Pulangbato and Raul Diano for the alleged illegal quarrying activity in Barangay Binaliw.

The order was issued by Rama last August 2 upon the recommendation of the Cebu City Mining Regulatory Board. The CDO was served early this week.

Monares, Codeniera, Oyao and Diano, according to the CDO, violated City Ordinance 2115 which prohibit extraction and hauling activity outside the permitted area limit and approved site development in the respective barangays mentioned.

CCMRB received various complaints against the quarrying activities of these operators due to the negative impact of the activities on the environment as observed by the complainant.

CCMRB conducted a site inspection yesterday and found out that quarrying was still going on in Kalunasan despite the CDO issued by the mayor.

But a confused Monares faced the personnel of the CCMRB because he apparently has no knowledge of the CDO and did not understand why he was issued one.

Monares said that he has all the necessary permits he needed to operate in the 1.6-hectare property that he is developing into a subdivision. He said he has the Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Site Development Permit from the City Planning and Development Office.

The CDO against Monares said that he has no permit from the city government but Monares said that he can show the special permit that the mayor issued to him permitting him to extract the loose soil from June to September.

Monares said it was already his third renewal since he started developing his property last March.

The loose soil extracted, he said, is dumped in the barangay’s plaza while some he gives for free to friends and constituents who request for it.

Monares belied the complaints of some residents that the barangay road has been damaged by the trucks hauling and transporting the sand.

“Naa’y mga guba na dalan pero tungod to sa sigeng ulan,” Monares said. He assured that the roads are due for repairs soon.

Monares dared the complainant, Geraldine Espina, to show up because he believes that the complaint was politically motivated. He said the complainant is not even from his barangay.

Monares said that he already stopped the operation and will talk to the mayor to clarify why he was issued a CDO even if he has all the necessary permits to show. –(FREEMAN)