THE LOCAL government here has formed an Inter-Agency Task Group to address issues and concerns concerning commercial and illegal quarrying operations within Davao City, including earth fill, sand and gravel, and limestone materials.
Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s Executive Order (EO) No. 54, Series of 2022, signed on Oct. 6, 2022, cited several written and verbal complaints lodged to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) on the unregulated and illegal quarrying activities conducted by permit holders and other individuals.
“There is a need to appropriately address the aforesaid complaints and other forthcoming related issues and concerns, and to guarantee the proper implementation of quarrying laws and other related policies and ordinances in addressing the same,” the new EO said.
Davao City has several approved quarry permits for Commercial Sand and Gravel (SAG), earth fill, and limestone extraction, mostly along the Davao River, Lasang River, Matina Pangi River, and Talomo River.
EO 54 further states that quarry products, such as sand, gravel, boulders, earth fill, and other materials, are essential components used in construction and infrastructure projects, supporting the city’s economic growth.
It also cited Section 2 of Administrative Order No. 2020-21, Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7942, otherwise known as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995,” which states that all mineral resources in public and private lands within the territory and exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines are owned by the State.
Under RA 7942, the State is responsible for promoting its national exploration, development, utilization, and conservation through the combined efforts of the Government and private sector to enhance national growth in a way that effectively safeguards the environment and protects the rights of affected communities.
EO 54 also cited RA No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991,” which mandates local government units to promote public health and safety, enhance the right of the people to a balanced ecology, and share with the national government the responsibility of managing its natural resources.
The Office of the City Mayor heads the Inter-Agency Task Group for Quarrying Operations as chairperson, City Administrator’s Office as co-chairperson, and Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (MGB)-Region 11 as vice chairperson.
Its members are (CENRO), the City Engineer’s Office (CEO), the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) — Zoning Division, the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), the Public Safety & Security Command Center (PSSCC), the City Legal Office, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mindanao Association of Mining Engineers (MAEM), Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. (SFFI), and Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS).
The task group is tasked to conduct a regular ocular inspection of all quarry areas to determine whether there are unregulated and illegal quarrying operations within the City; prepare the necessary report highlighting the violations, and make the corresponding recommendations to address the concerns related to the unregulated and illegal quarrying operations; monitor and ensure that all the terms and conditions in quarry permits are strictly complied with; formulate mitigating measures to be adopted to address any negative environmental impact during operations properly; and, make a periodic report to the city mayor.
CENRO shall serve as the Inter-Agency Task Group Secretariat tasked to handle all administrative and secretarial activities.
All operational costs of the task group shall be sourced from the City Government of Davao’s available funds subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
