On two quarry operators in Cebu Gwen extends CDO

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has extended the cease-and-desist order (CDO) against all earth-moving operations of two quarry companies in the province. 

The governor issued two separate executive orders—Executive Order No. 13 and Executive Order No. 14—directing Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) and Solid Earth Development Corp (SEDC) to halt all earth-moving activities for another 30 days, starting March 25 to April 18, 2025.

The reason for the extension of the CDO is to allow more time for the continuation of the environmental audit and comprehensive area risk assessment of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) areas of both companies.

During the one-month period, both companies are directed to refrain from engaging in any activity that could be perceived as a continuation or revival of their earth-moving activities and to take all necessary steps to comply with the directives of the governor’s order until the comprehensive audit and assessment are completed.

The recent EO issued by the governor to ALQC marks the fourth time the CDO against the company’s earth-moving operations has been extended since December last year.

Garcia first ordered the cessation of ALQC’s earth-moving operations in Naga City, citing an “apparent disregard of the safety” of communities living near the company’s quarry sites.

As for SEDC, the recent order marks the third extension of the CDO against the company’s earth-moving operations in the town of San Fernando this year.

Both EOs were issued on March 24 at the Cebu Provincial Capitol.

ALQC is the principal supplier of raw materials—such as limestone, clay, and greywacke—to Apo Cement, while Solid Earth supplies materials to Taiheiyo Cement Philippines.

The Capitol emphasized that this measure is being taken by the Cebu provincial government to ensure the safety of people living near the quarry sites of the said companies and to prevent any tragedy like the deadly landslide that occurred in the City of Naga in 2018, which took the lives of over 70 people. — (FREEMAN)