CEBU CITY – Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued a cease and desist order against two mining companies in the town of Alcoy and effectively stopping the extraction of dolomites used in the controversial Manila Bay white sand project.
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| Governor Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu PIO) |
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| The Manila Bay white sand project continues to pique the public’s curiosity as bikers and other passersby stop and try to take a look at the large heap of white sand at the bay front. Manila Bay has always been famous for its breathtaking sunset. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan) |
Garcia signed Executive Order No. 25 ordering Dolomite Mining Corporation (DMC) and Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) to “immediately cease and desist from further extracting, processing, selling, and transporting of dolomite, associated mineral deposits, and other quarry resources”.
The order, she said, was “to further prevent more damage to the terrestrial environment in the Municipality of Alcoy,” claiming that the activities of the companies that undertook the extraction and transport of dolomites to Manila are not covered with Environmental Impact Study as mandated under Proclamation No. 2146.
“The Provincial Government of Cebu, and even the Municipality of Alcoy, was not informed of the beautification project nor was there any public consultation held before the issuance of the two OTPs (ore transport permits) to PMSC for the transport of said dolomite rocks from Cebu to Manila,” she said.
The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) in Central Visayas said it issued two OTPs to the PMSC which allowed the company to transport 7 tons of dolomite for the Manila Bay beautification project.
Garcia, however, said issuance of such OTPS to the mining firm, PMSC, was without proper notice to the Alcoy municipality, noting that the absence of public consultation “clearly lacks transparency" on the part of MGB and the mining firms.
She said it violated Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order 2010-21 which defines the role of an LGU in ensuring compliance with “public notice, public consultation and public participation”.
“The absence of Environmental Impact Study is a clear and blatant violation of DENR Administrative Order No. 2003-30, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Presidential Decree No. 1586, establishing the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System,” she added.
The governor also invoked the constitutional principle of “balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony with nature” in issuing the order. She asked the Alcoy LGU, the police and the military to assist the provincial government in implementing the cease and desist order.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the crushed dolomite boulders overlaid on the beach area of Manila Bay came from Cebu and were already crushed before being brought to the capital.
The project, Antiporda said, “will serve as a campaign for the people to tell them that it’s about time we take care of our environment and maintain cleanliness, because, as DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu believes, the current pandemic is connected to our being neglectful (of) our environment”.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo defended the Manila Bay project and said it has been on the pipeline and was already allotted with funds last year.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque also said the white sand project will prevent soil erosion and flooding. “Itong ginawa po nila, ito po ay tinatawag na beach enhancement, so hindi lang po ito pagpapaganda. Itong beach enhancement pong ito ay para po maiwasan ang soil erosion at para makatulong din po sa flood control,” he said in defending the project.
Lawmakers and environmental groups criticized the project since dolomite sand could pose public health risks and environmental problems.
Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso also sided with Panelo and Roque and defended the project. “Our stand is very clear, until particular sand is found pollutive harmful without proper studies, we will support the rehabilitation of Manila Bay,” Domagoso said. “To know na makapaminsala siyempre me mga syentipiko naman and I think DENR is in the right position to know better than me, sapagkat sila naman ang talagang tinalaga ng batas na mangalaga sa ating kapaligiran.”
There was no immediate statement from the DENR on Garcia’s order. (John Rey Saavedra, Marita Moaje and Azer Parrocha.)
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