For mananga sand, gravel extraction wanted: Cease and desist order

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City Council is asking Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III to stop the sand and gravel extraction operation along the stretch of Mananga River because the activity has "greatly destroyed the river's natural environment and equilibrium."

City Councilor Antonio "Jojo" Bacaltos Jr., who is the chairman of the council's committee on environment, said that, per records, no dredging or excavation permit has been issued and approved by the -City Council and therefore, the activity conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways and a private company are illegal.

In a privilege speech delivered yesterday's council session, Bacaltos said the illegal activities of consistently digging and stockpiling gravel, sand and boulders in the river were conducted even without city government's permission.

The DPWH reportedly hired the company to do the works. Bacaltos said he was surprised when he heard of the operations since no one applied for a dredging permit in the city.

Bacaltos reminded on the existence City Ordinance No. 2005-23 that prohibits the removal of sand and gravel from Mananga River.

The ordinance penalizes any person, concessionaire, firm, entity, company or corporation who shall get, remove, or excavate sand, gravel, stones, or any kind of soil from the prohibited areas of the riverbed of Mananga River.

"Any offender will be penalized P2,000 or an imprisonment of one to three months or both, at the discretion of the court,  will be imposed for first offense while a fine of P3,000 or an imprisonment of three to six months or both, at the discretion of the court for second offense," it says.

For the third offense, a violator will be fined P5,000 or an imprisonment of six months to one year or both at the discretion of the court.

The Mananga River is an integral part of the Central Cebu River System, which also includes Combado-Lusaran River basin, Kotkot River basin and Coastal River basin.

A significant part of Mananga River is within the territorial boundary of the City of Talisay, thus maximum protection to safeguard the ecological welfare of the river is of utmost importance to the city's officials.

In a separate interview with The Freeman, vice mayor and council's presiding officer Romeo Villarante said he will be asking for an audience with the governor as soonest possible time to inform him about the operation at the Mananga River.

"We will seek audience with Governor Davide as we will be requesting him to urgently stop all the sand and gravel in Mananga River right now," Villarante said as he insisted that there was no authority from the city council to conduct the activity in the area.

"What is the authority of the DPWH to conduct a dredging in the area? Until now, not a single resolution approves the activity. There is a question on the legality," Villarante added.