Mines bureau orders halt to Apas ‘treasure hunting’

A couple was ordered to stop their excavation in a steep slope behind their house in barangay Apas, Cebu City to avoid the risk of a landslide.

Neighbors openly speculated about the tunnel as a treasure hunting venture.

The family said they were buiding a grotto behind their house but Apas barangay captain Ramily Ayuman said he doesn’t believe it because work has been going on for six months and the tunnel was 30 feet deep.

The regional office of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) of the environment department issued the cease and desist order to Matias and Consuelo Densing.

“Field findings revealed, among others, that you (couple) excavated a small adit [an almost horizontal entrance] estimated to be about 0.6 meter by 0.6 meter at the back of your residence which is a steep slope of a hill,” MGB-7 Regional Director Loreto Alburo said in his order.

MGB-7 staff went the area last Aug. 5 to investigate the complaint of Banilad barangay captain Nicolas Leyson Jr.

Sitio Rotunda is located in the boundary of barangays Apas and Banilad.

Just a grotto

During yesterday’s inspection, the couple’s daughter Kim Densing said they were building a grotto.

The MGB-7 said the excavation is endangering public safety.

The tunnel has no timber supports and might collapse or cave in, said the cease and desist order said.

“Secondly, the excavated loose materials or sediments may cause siltation or landslides during heavy rains. Thirdly, the aditting or tunneling is risky and unsafe to the workers due to possible gas suffocation and rock falls or slab offs. Lastly, and more importantly, the activity is not covered by any permit from the local government unit,” said the MGB in a press statement.

Although the excavation is not yet considered a mining activity, the MGB-7 ordered a halt until permits are secured from the Cebu City government.

Barangay officials of Banilad and Apas were asked to be vigilant in monitoring.

Only the National Museum under the Office of the President is authorized to issue treasure hunting permits.

Permit holders have to follow a sharing scheme on artifacts recovered with the government including the local government unit.

Apas barangay captain Ayuman said they will file a formal complaint with the Cebu City Mining Regulatory Board.

“I don’t believe it’s for a grotto because it’s very deep, around 30 feet deep and it’s slanting going down,” Ayuman said.

He said around 100 residents near the area have signed the petition.

Residents claim the couple was also involved in at least two other excavation activities in other areas.