CEBU CITY –– The Cebu provincial board is looking into the reported extraction of dolomite rocks in the province to cover the shores of Manila Bay.
Provincial Board Member John Ismael Borgonia, chairman of the committee on environment conservation and natural resources, described the possible extraction of dolomite from Cebu as “alarming” since there was no permit sought for such purpose.
“We’re caught by surprise. This is alarming. Even if the project was undertaken by the national government, the local government of Cebu should have been informed. They (national government) should have asked for the necessary permit and consent,” he told reporters on Friday.
“We asked our Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) to investigate which particular area in Cebu the dolomite was extracted from. How did these people do this without the province knowing it,” he added.
Borgonia said the issuance of new quarrying permits remained suspended throughout the province.
“It’s like Cebu was robbed. We didn’t even have an idea about it. This is a classic example of getting something from our resources, but the province did not have anything in return,” he said.