Buhisan chief denies illegal quarry claims

CEBU, Philippines — Buhisan Barangay Captain Gremar Barete has denied allegations of illegal quarrying in the barangay, insisting that the area in question is a small subdivision development that has existed for decades and is not a quarry site.

Barete said the property, measuring around 5,000 square meters, was approved in the 1990s during the term of a former barangay captain. It was later sold to another developer and has long held an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

He maintained that the barangay has never authorized quarrying activities and has consistently opposed projects that encroach on watershed areas, including the Monterrazas development.

“Wala, walay quarrying, wala. Ako jud… against na’s quarrying,” Barete said, adding that the subdivision has not operated for more than a year.

Barete clarified that the only major infrastructure project currently underway in Buhisan is the Department of Public Works and Highways' road widening project with slope protection, which resumed after Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival lifted a cease-and-desist order on July 9, 2026.

The order, originally issued on February 19, 2026, suspended excavation and earth-moving activities pending compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.

The mayor lifted the order after contractor BNR Construction and Development Corporation executed an affidavit of undertaking and secured clearances from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and other concerned agencies.

Documents from the Office of the Mayor show that the lifting order allowed the resumption of Project No. 25HH0121, or the Construction of Road with Slope Protection in Barangay Buhisan, subject to several conditions. These include coordination with the DPWH and the Cebu City Government, protection of the existing water reservoir until a replacement facility becomes operational, and compliance with environmental safeguards.

Barete said the ?90-million project includes the construction of line canals, road concreting, slope stabilization measures, and improvements to the area's water system. The project is targeted for completion by December 2026.

He explained that construction was temporarily suspended after Typhoon Tino because of safety concerns but resumed after the contractor complied with technical requirements.

According to Barete, slope protection works are essential because Buhisan is prone to landslides. He said hillside developments in South Hills have added pressure to the mountain slopes, contributing to instability that affects communities below.

He added that cracks reported in some houses are more likely caused by earthquakes and hillside developments rather than the ongoing slope protection project.

Barete also pointed to Buhisan's experience during Typhoon Tino, saying the barangay escaped flooding because of existing flood-control measures in its waterways.

He warned that barangay officials could face administrative complaints before the Ombudsman if they prevented the implementation of projects that had already secured permits and approvals from government agencies, including the DENR, EMB, Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO), and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD).

Yogi Filemon Ruiz, former regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas and former Bureau of Customs commissioner, questioned on social media whether the excavation in Buhisan was genuinely part of the road widening project or an unauthorized quarrying operation.

Ruiz, who ran but lost in the Cebu City mayoral race, challenged local officials to present proof that the project had secured an ECC.

“Ako gipangayoan ug tubag kay road widening ba gihapon ning pag kob2x pasaka sa bungtod. Matubag lang ko nga naay ECC kay muhunong nako nya personal muatubang ninyo nya mangayo ug pasaylo,” Ruiz wrote.

In response, Barete invited Ruiz to visit the barangay office and attend a barangay council session to clarify the issue, saying drone footage posted online may have created a misleading impression of the site.

He said Ruiz had promised to visit the barangay, adding that he welcomed the opportunity for dialogue.

Barete also expressed belief that Buhisan was being unfairly singled out, noting that larger hillside developments in Quiot, Tisa, Arcenas South Hills and Monterrazas have had greater environmental impacts but have not drawn the same level of scrutiny.

“Murag political assassination ba nga himoan ka’g issue nga dili tinuod,” Barete said, lamenting what he described as an attempt to unfairly target the barangay despite its efforts in flood control and environmental protection. — (FREEMAN)