PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan?The Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB) has issued a cease-and-desist order against an ongoing tourism investment project in San Vicente, northern Palawan, for alleged illegal quarrying activity.

The board released Thursday the order issued May 7 following its investigation of a land development project for a planned marina yacht club being undertaken by Kemdeng Coastline Properties, reportedly an arm of investment giant Big Foot Entertainment.

It pointed out that the company is leveling an entire hill to fill in the property being developed for the project without a permit from the provincial regulatory body.

Giant earth-moving equipment have been flattening an entire hill to fill up a former fishpond where the project will be undertaken, it noted.

The PMRB resolution cited its earlier order requiring all local government units, contractors, and developers to secure a permit from the provincial government for any quarrying activity.

San Vicente Mayor Antonio Gonzales declined to comment on the order directing the local government unit to implement the cease-and-desist order, saying he has yet to see a copy of the order.

Gonzales earlier noted that Big Foot Entertainment, along with the Andres Soriano Group, are the major investors who have put in major investments in property acquisition and development in support of the municipality?s push for tourism development.

The Kemdeng group has secured an environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for the project, which includes the development of facilities such as two condominium buildings, a recreational area, cottages, parking area, and club house.

While the project has been issued an ECC, however, PMRB member Nesario Awat explained that the company still needed to secure a quarry permit from the provincial government.

?An ECC is not a license to operate. They need to secure a permit for that mountain quarrying,? Awat said.