MANILA, Philippines — Extraction and transport of dolomite for Manila Bay’s rehabilitation project has been stopped.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday issued Executive Order (EO) 25 ordering the Philippine Mining Service Corp. (PMSC) and Dolomite Mining Corp. (DMC) to ”immediately stop” further extraction, processing, sale and transport of dolomite, associated mineral deposits and other quarry resources.
Garcia also ordered the local government of Alcoy, the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines to assist the provincial government in implementing the EO.
DMC, through a mineral production sharing agreement with the national government, extracted dolomite in Alcoy town. PMSC took charge of transporting the synthetic white sand to Manila.
Garcia said the provincial government of Cebu and municipal government of Alcoy were not informed of Manila Bay’s rehabilitation project.
She said there was no public consultation before permits were issued to PSMC for the transport of dolomite rocks from Cebu to Manila.
“There is no showing that the dolomite extraction, processing, transport, sale and use in the Manila Bay shoreline has an environmental impact study,” the EO added.
It also noted that the extraction was done at an ”environmentally critical area” and a critical slope.
Alcoy has been declared habitat of Black Shama, an endangered bird species, which is endemic in Cebu.
”Extraction of dolomite minerals from Alcoy and the consequential damage it will cause the terrestrial environment of the Cebu island violate Cebuanos’ constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology,” the EO read.
Former environment secretary Lito Atienza said the beautification project is futile and a waste of resources.
However, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he sees nothing wrong with the project.
”This would not only give a nicer view but it could provide a safety buffer,” Año said in an interview over CNN. –The Freeman