The Cebu Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) intercepted three 10-wheeler trucks full of anapog (limestone) that were illegally quarried in Medellin last Monday.
Lawyer Chad Estella, PENRO head, said the trucks were registered to the municipality of Medellin and the drivers could not present permits to quarry and to carry limestone.
“This is a violation of Cebu provincial ordinance 2008-10 (Revenue Code of the Province of Cebu) as amended,” he told reporters yesterday.
Ordinance 2008-10 regulates the quarrying of sand and gravel and other natural resources.
Estella said he will refer the matter to the Provincial Legal Office which will determine whether to fine the municipality at P10,000 for each truck or file a complaint against the local chief executive.
He will also report the matter to Gov. Hilario Davide III so he can issue a cease-and-desist order on the municipality’s quarrying operations in the area.
The vehicles were intercepted in an operation in Barangay Antipolo in Medellin, weeks after PENRO received a complaint from a barangay official in the town.
Estella said the drivers were released, but the trucks were impounded.
In a separate interview, Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez complained why this happened just now.
“Dugay na man ni. Nganong karon pa man ni? Pamulitika ra gyud ni (This has been going on for so long. Why just now? This is just plain politicking),” he said.
Ramirez added that in the last 17 years, there has been quarrying operations in the area.
He said that the limestone will be used as materials for the paving of barangay roads in the town.
Barangay Antipolo is one of the 19 towns in Medellin, northern Cebu.
“I am not using this for personal business. They shouldn’t be so strict about it since this is for the public,” the mayor added.
Ramirez did not categorically answer when asked if the quarrying is covered with permits.
Estella, however, said that whether an operation is public or private, compliance to requirements should still be observed.