MIAGAO, Iloilo – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR MGB) strictly told quarry operators and punong barangays with quarry areas to adhere to the “No Permit, No Quarry” policy of the Agency.

In his statement before the attendees of the technical conference, Friday, Atty. Cesar Emmanuel Buyco, Jr. of the DENR MGB clarified that in Miagao, the Office has yet to issue permit to quarry applicants in Miagao.

“Miagao has no quarry permittee.  There are those who are extracting sand and gravel in the guise of river rechanneling, in this case all punong barangays with quarry areas must look into the Program of Works of these operators,” said Engr. Buyco.

He revealed that to date the DENR MGB has issued one Notice of Violation and one Notice of Adverse Findings to identified violators in Miagao.  Buyco said that these violators will at any time be issued Cease and Desist Order by the Office of the Governor.

Attended by punong barangays with quarry areas, quarry operators, DENR personnel and municipal officials, the technical conference was called in response to the complaint received by the Office of the Municipal Mayor on illegal quarry operations.

“We have to be relentless to regulate all illegal (quarry) activities in our locality.  I cannot just sit down and look into all that is happening more so that complaints have already reached the Office of the President, “said Mayor Macario N. Napulan in his message during the conference. (ABMande/Information Office)