Investigations by the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCenro) have exposed illegal earth-moving activities in Barangay Binaliw, raising concerns about environmental damage and safety violations. Two companies, JT Ayne Constructions and Powerplus Aggregates Systems Co. Ltd., are under scrutiny for operating without proper permits and engaging in activities deemed as illegal quarrying.
The Cebu City Council has received inspection reports from the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCenro) confirming illegal earth-moving activities in Barangay Binaliw . The reports, dated August 27, 2025, were endorsed to the Council by Councilor Joel Garganera for appropriate action. The inspections, conducted by CCenro and the Barangay Binaliw local government on July 24, followed earlier monitoring and complaints.
The first inspection focused on JT Ayne Constructions, which was found conducting large-scale earth-moving on the property of Rogelio “Elyot” Ople near the Binaliw Landfill. Ople stated that the activities began in November 2024 with his consent, supposedly to level his land after a deep excavation for a right-of-way left a hazardous cliff. He admitted that around 3,000 truckloads of soil have already been removed from the site. Barangay Captain Viviane Ruste confirmed that JT Ayne Constructions had earlier sought permission to build a motor pool for dump trucks but remarked that the scale of excavation was “excessively large” for such a purpose. CCenro noted that JT Ayne had applied for a special hauling permit in November 2023 but was denied due to missing requirements. The office stressed that the ongoing activities qualified as illegal quarrying since no necessary permits were secured. The inspection also flagged Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PWS), formerly ARN Central Waste Management Inc., operating at the landfill without a valid Cebu City Mining Regulatory Board (CCMRB) permit. The activity was classified as an illegal quarry operation, emphasizing JT Ayne's lack of valid permits. The second inspection focused on Powerplus Aggregates Systems Co. Ltd., found operating heavy equipment, a crusher, and a washery facility in Binaliw near the Consolacion border. A company engineer told inspectors that the property had been recently acquired from a certain Patigayon, although the deed of sale was yet to be signed. The official claimed the excavation was for a planned water impounding system in preparation for El Niño, not for hauling. The engineers insisted the work was limited to cut-and-fill, that no materials were removed from the site, and disclosed that the land had just been ‘fully paid’ to a certain Patigayon, although the deed of sale remained unsigned. Ruste further noted that Patigayon himself had complained about the excavation as his adjacent lot was affected. However, CCenro’s initial assessment indicated that the volume of excavated soil exceeded the filled portions, suggesting quarrying activity. Powerplus was unable to present any permits for the operation. CCenro also raised concerns regarding a road opening, initially spearheaded by former councilor Jerry Guardo, which had become a contentious access route to Powerplus facilities. Barangay officials highlighted issues of toll collection by a private lot owner and access problems for at least 20 households in Sitio Sta. Ana.CCenro stressed that the activities of both JT Ayne and Powerplus constituted clear violations of the Cebu City Mining Ordinance (City Ordinance 2115) and Executive Order 13 or “Oplan Likay sa Landslide,” which prohibits quarrying in upland barangays like Binaliw due to landslide risks. The office recommended that the Cebu City Mining Regulatory Board endorse the mayor's prompt issuance of a cease-and-desist order against the operators.It also urged the City to require PWS, operator of the Binaliw landfill, to secure the necessary permits since its previous authorization had expired. CCenro also requested the Barangay Binaliw government to regularly monitor the site and for the property owners to be invited to a technical conference with CCenro, CCMRB, and barangay officials. During the Council session on Tuesday, September 2, Councilor Harold Go pointed out that the illegal excavation commenced in November 2024 but was only formally reported by CCenro in July 2025. He moved to forward the inspection findings to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for further action
Cebu City Illegal Quarrying Environment Ccenro Binaliw JT Ayne Constructions Powerplus Aggregates Systems
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