DENR cancelled expired quarry permits — Bulacan exec

MALOLOS CITY — Bulacan officials criticized Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angelo Reyes for cancelling quarry permits supposedly issued by the provincial government, saying that the move was irrelevant since the permits have long expired.

Provincial administrator Gladys Sta. Rita told The STAR that what Reyes cancelled were non-existent permits.

"Two of the five quarry permits he (Reyes) mentioned were issued during the time of former governor Roberto Pagdanganan," she said.

According to Sta. Rita, quarry permits usually last for only a year and that the provincial government had stopped issuing such permits long before Gov. Josie de la Cruz launched his crusade against marble quarrying in the Biak-na-Bato National Park.

Last Wednesday, Reyes suspended the controversial marble quarrying of Rosemoor Mining and Development Corp. (RMDC) in Biak-na-Bato’s mineral reservation area due to violations of its mineral production sharing agreement (MPSA).

Reyes also cancelled quarry permits supposedly issued by the provincial government between 1999 and 2003, as well as 14 pending quarry applications within Biak-na-Bato’s mineral, forest and watershed reservation areas.

Reyes asserted that the authority to issue quarry permits rests solely on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Sta. Rita, however, disputed this, saying that the Local Government Code authorizes provincial governments to issue quarry permits.

She said, "This authority is clearly provided for under the Local Government Code and Section 71 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. Any qualified person may apply for a quarry permit with the provincial governor/city mayor through the provincial/city mining regulatory board for the extraction, removal and disposition of quarry resources covering an area of not more than five hectares for a term of five years from the date of issuance."

She said the authority to issue permits and licenses to small-scale miners is a function devolved to local governments.

However, she added that these permits are scrutinized and deliberated on by members of the provincial mining and regulatory board.

She said the regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau sits as chairman of the provincial board, with representatives of the governor (usually the head of the provincial environment and natural resources office), small-scale and big-scale miners’ groups, and a non-government organization as members.

"The governor only approves the issuance of a permit and license upon the endorsement of this board created through Republic Act 7076 in accordance with the merits of the submitted requirements. The law authorizes the governor to follow this mandate," Sta. Rita said.

In a statement, the provincial Capitol quoted De la Cruz as being baffled by Reyes’ cancellation of the five small-scale mining permits when this does not have any bearing on the suspension of Rosemoor’s marble quarrying.

Meanwhile, Rosemoor executive Zenaida Pascual blamed their violations of the MPSA on their erratic operations caused by what she described as the continued harassment by local officials.

"Hindi kami maka-comply dahil hindi stable ang takbo ng negosyo (We could not comply because our business operations are unstable)," she said in a text message.

Pascual expressed hope though that Rosemoor would be able to comply now with its MPSA since Reyes has made clear his position on marble quarrying.