Eastern Visayas heightens monitoring of illegal quarrying

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has escalated its efforts against unauthorized quarrying activities in the Eastern Visayas region, having deputized 688 mining enforcement officers since the previous year.

According to Glenn Marcelo Noble, the regional director of MGB Eastern Visayas, the deputized personnel, including task force enforcers, police officers, village officials, and selected local government employees, hail from various towns and cities in Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Samar provinces–areas known for their quarrying activities.

Noble emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of personnel from local governments and partner agencies due to their limited numbers to ensure that operators adhere to the permitted sand and gravel extraction volume within authorized areas.

The MGB has also extended deputation to officers from the provincial governments of Southern Leyte and Northern Samar, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional enforcement division, and the Environmental Management Bureau regional office.

Records from 2022 indicate that the region’s 26 operators, with permits from MGB, extracted 304,344 cubic meters of sand and gravel, amounting to Php 104.03 million. Industrial sand and gravel permits, covering areas exceeding five hectares, are issued by the bureau.

Noble announced plans to deploy more deputized enforcers in the coming months, granting them the authority to apprehend and seize tools, equipment, and conveyances used in illegal mining. They will also be authorized to confiscate all mineral products illegally extracted, hauled, and possessed by offenders, and to file criminal complaints.