PENRO intensifies small-scale mining law
The Cebu provincial government has tightened its enforcement of the small-scale mining law to stop illegal quarrying of filling materials in some areas in the province.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) intensified the enforcement of the law to stop haulers from illegal quarrying of filling materials and to lessen the number of violators.
Just recently, PENRO and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office apprehended seven loaded trucks of extracted limestone without delivery receipts, which are proof that contractors have paid for the extracted materials and also indicate the volume of quarry materials extracted. If a contractor lacks the receipts, the inspection team will not allow them to extract quarry materials.
They also took custody of a back hoe used in extracting sand and gravel in the river basin. The Provincial Board approved last year a resolution, banning the use of backhoes in river quarrying as it may cause substantial damage to river banks. Also, backhoes are used for excessive sand and gravel extraction.
Inspection team leader, Engineer Azmir Garcia of PENRO's Mines and Geosciences Division, said they seized the materials, while the trucks and equipment were brought to Asturias Police station.
These violations were found after the conduct of a surprise inspection last August 19 in river networks of Balamban-Asturias interiors for illegal quarry operators allegedly frequenting the area.
"We issued temporary seizure to the loaded materials and the trucks will be impounded waiting for further investigation," said Garcia.
He said the Provincial Legal Office will determine if a case would be filed against the operators or they be subjected to administrative fines amounting to at least P10,000.
The Provincial Government in its drive to safeguard the natural resources of the province has an ordinance No. 2008-10, otherwise known as the Revenue Code of Cebu of 2008. It regulates the quarrying of sand and gravel and other natural resources.