Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued a cease and desist order to the dolomite contractors extracting, processing, and transporting the tons of artificial white sand being dumped along the Manila Baywalk.

On Tuesday, September Garcia released Executive Order No. 25 which told Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC) and Dolomite Mining Corporation (DMC) to stop “extracting, processing, selling, and transporting dolomite, associated mineral deposits and other quarry resources” in order to avoid further environmental degradation. 

DMC was the company which extracted dolomite from the southern town of Alcoy in Cebu Province. DMC sold the blocks of dolomite to PMSC. In turn, PMSC was the contractor which processed the dolomite blocks into the artificial white sand used for the Manila Bay beautification project.

“The extraction of dolomite minerals from Alcoy and the consequential damage it will cause the terrestrial environment of Cebu Island violate the Cebuanos’ constitutional right to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” the EO read.

“To further prevent more damage to the terrestrial environment in the Municipality of Alcoy there is a need to immediately stop PMSC and DMC from further extracting, processing, selling, and transporting of dolomite associated mineral deposits, and other quarry resources,” the EO reads. 

On September 4, the Cebu Provincial Board called for an investigation on the extraction and sale of dolomite from Alcoy after finding out that the provincial government did not issue a permit for the project. 

However, the board decided not to pursue the investigation when the Mining and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-7) Central Visayas released a statement that the permit came from their office. 

Garcia signed the cease and desist order on the same day she met with representatives from MGB-7.

Garcia noted in her EO that the MGB-7 issued two Ore Transport Permits to ship 7 wet metric tons of dolomite from Alcoy to Manila without informing the Cebu provincial government and the Alcoy municipal government. 

The Alcoy LGU, the police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines were tasked to implement Garcia’s order. – Rappler.com