Governor Gwendoyln Garcia calls for a thorough investigation into all cement plants and quarrying operations in Cebu, citing escalating environmental and safety risks. The investigation is spurred by concerns about large-scale mining operations threatening local communities, the environment, and the region's long-term sustainability. The governor specifically targets the Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) and questions the granting of Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) in densely populated areas.
GOVERNOR Gwendoyln Garcia has called for a comprehensive investigation on all cement plants in Cebu and their associated quarrying operations, citing escalating environmental and safety risks.The call was made amid concerns about large-scale mining operations threatening local communities, the environment, and the region’s long-term sustainability.
In a press conference on Friday, January 3, 2025, Garcia highlighted the issue of 'indiscriminate quarrying' as a critical problem, particularly in areas where mineral extraction rights have been granted to large companies. “I will have you all investigated, because I wouldn’t mind if you close down or if we shut you down. We cannot afford this anymore if this continues,” Garcia said.One of the key targets of the investigation is the Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC), which holds a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) that covers over 3,300 hectares of land, much of it densely populated.MPSAs are agreements that allow mining firms to extract and utilize mineral resources from public lands in exchange for a share of the profits with the government. The issue, according to Garcia, is that these agreements have been granted in regions already home to thousands of residents, raising questions about the safety of these communities and the sufficiency of regulatory oversight.'It’s scary, because the very agencies that are supposed to protect us, I don’t know why they’re granting these huge MPSAs in areas where there are already communities living,' Garcia said, referring to regulatory bodies like the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), which she claims have allowed these potentially hazardous operations to continue unchecke
Environment Mining Quarrying Safety Regulation
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