Cease order served vs. Lhuillier quarry

CEBU, Philippines - At least three deputized personnel of the Cebu City Mining Regulatory Board and two policemen will inspect every now and then the property of businessman Michel Lhuillier in Barangay San Jose to see if the alleged illegal quarry operation continues despite the Cease and Desist Order issued by the mayor last Wednesday.

The CDO was served to Lhuillier yesterday morning ordering him to “cease and desist from further making any hauling operations and such other related undertaking.”

The CDO was issued based on the recommendation of the mining board which reported that Lhuillier has no approved site development permit as per records of the City Planning Office.

The board also determined, based on the logbook voluntarily submitted to the board three weeks ago, that there has been a total of 61,440 cubic meters of filling materials extracted and hauled from the area while the allowable volume for them is only 1,000 cubic meters.

The board also noted the failure of the owner of the property to observe various requirements of the law which included benching at the development site, detention ponds and drainage system, among others.

Philip Zafra, chief of staff of Mayor Rama, was tasked by the latter to assist the board. He said that the aside from the CDO the board is mulling other sanctions against the violator.

Among their possible courses of action is compelling Lhuillier to pay for every cubic meter that has been extracted in excess to the allowed volume.

According to the receipt from the City Treasurer’s Office, Lhuiller paid the amount of P36,300 comprising the filing fee of P300, verification fee of P1,000 and the pre-extraction fee per cubic meter of P35,000 for 1,000 cubic meters. The board said Lhuillier exceeded the allowed volume by 60,440 equivalent to P2.1 million. (FREEMAN)