The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has intensified its enforcement against illegal quarrying after seizing more than PHP 133 million worth of equipment and materials during an operation in Angono, Rizal.
The seizure followed a January 20 operation in Barangay San Isidro, the Philippine News Agency reports. It is within this investigation that enforcement teams found heavy machinery, trucks, mobile crushers, and large volumes of processed aggregates inside a site that forms part of the Village East II Residential Subdivision Project. The DENR said the value of the seized equipment and materials exceeded PHP 133 million.
According to the agency, the case started after news reports in mid-2025 raised concerns over possible illegal quarrying activities in the area. Subsequent monitoring and validation conducted by DENR units confirmed the presence of quarrying operations which then prompted enforcement action.
During site inspections, enforcement personnel confirmed the existence of illegal mineral extraction activities and apprehended individuals operating heavy equipment. The DENR also reported observing mobile crushers in operation and the hauling of quarry materials to a nearby dumping area close to the Materials Recovery Facility along the Taytay–Angono Road in Barangay Kalayaan.
While the project involved was found to hold several permits, the DENR said surveillance carried out by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Rizal and the Environmental Law Enforcement and Protection Service (ELEPS) revealed that quarrying activities were not included in those permits.
An inventory conducted by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau confirmed the types and volume of equipment and materials seized at the site. The DENR said all confiscated items have been secured under government custody within the project area.
Following the operation, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region IV-A issued a cease and desist order, directing the developers to halt all activities and submit compliance reports. The enforcement action was carried out with the participation of DENR Region IV-A, MGB, EMB, ELEPS, and the National Bureau of Investigation- Rizal.
The DENR said an inquest case has been filed against the company officers and operators for violations of Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which penalizes the unauthorized extraction and disposal of mineral resources.
As enforcement actions against illegal quarrying continue, how effective will stricter monitoring and inter-agency coordination be in preventing unauthorized mineral extraction in rapidly developing areas?
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