DENR orders quarry stop in Lian, Batangas
ENVIRONMENT Secretary Roy Cimatu has ordered a stoppage to all quarrying activities in Lian, Batangas after it was found out that no permits have been issued in the town.
The directive was following the arrest of six individuals in June 24 for conducting quarrying works without the necessary papers from the government.
Cimatu said that as per the list of existing holders of Special Permit to Transport and Dispose of the Batangas Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, it turned out that no permit was issued in Lian municipality.
The DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Calabarzonalso came out with a certification, stating that there was no valid Mineral Production Sharing Agreement that was granted within the said town.
MPSA is an agreement, wherein the government shares in the production of the contractor, whether in kind or in value, as owner of the minerals.
In return, the contractor shall provide the necessary financing, technology, management, and personnel for the mining project.
According to Cimatu, the arrest of the six quarry workers is another proof of the DENR’s continuing commitment against all illegalities.
“Despite the health crisis, we laud the continuing endeavors of the men and women serving the Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service to apprehend the culprits,” Cimatu said.
The DENR-ELEPS, together with the Environmental Crime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Calabarzon, has conducted a joint-surveillance activity to verify reports that quarry operations at Sitio Matuod, Bgy. Binubusan in the municipality of Lian was still ongoing despite the cease and desist order previously issued to the owner identified as Francis Limjoco III.
The operatives were able to confiscate four units of backhoe and five dump trucks, including the illegally- sourced minerals andesite, a type of volcanic rock, with an estimated value of P32,038,500.
Charged for violation of Section 103 of Republic Act 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 were Rodel Marinduque, Francis Dacuya, Claudio Tamayo, Jovencio Malabanan, Roger Betonia, and Sonny Marinduque.
