Board suspends 15 Mactan stone plants

ABOUT 15 stone-cutting and processing plant operators in Cordova town and Lapu-Lapu City were ordered closed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) for failing to secure a quarry permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

“The issuance of the cease-and-desist orders came after an inventory and investigation conducted by the bureau of existing operators without the necessary permits from concerned authorities,” said MGB-7 director Loreto Alburo said.

The operators issued with CDOs are Julito Villanueva of Towerstones Enterprises, Arturo Sanchez of Mactan Art Stone, Coast Pacific Manufacturing Corp., Franscis Cardenas of Madeka Stone, Development Enterprises and Solid Stone Center Corp.

Also included were Raymond Lacson of ELG Inc., Dante Fiel, Joveniano Perez, Ria Cabilino, Nilda Baring, Vicente Sala, Lemuel Rubi, Jocelyn Connely of EMATA Exports, Emma Alfon and Virgilio Darnayla.

Most of the operators were based in barangays Pajac and Basak, Lapu-Lapu City, and barangays Cogon and Ibabao in Cordova town.

Alburo said operators need a quarry permit issued by the local government unit and a Mineral Processing Permit (MPP) from the MGB before they can operate their plants.

He said Mactan stones are used for tiles, slabs and other pieces of furniture. They are mostly exported, Alburo said.

The CDO said that they would only be allowed to resume operations once they secure the Mineral Processing Permit from this Office (MGB-7) pursuant to the requirements of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995.

Alburo said the DENR will partner with the Lapu-Lapu city government to conduct a joint investigation and inventory in order to check the compliance of other operators in their area. Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya