Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) chief Roy Cimatu ordered on Friday the suspension of two mining firms in Alcoy, Cebu, pending results of the investigation on the alleged damages they have caused for dolomite mining.
Operations of the Dolomite Mining Corporation (DMC) for its quarry operations and Philippine Mining Service Corporation (PMSC), a processing plant for dolomite, have been halted by the environment secretary, following an inspection conducted by DENR officials, the Department said in a statement.
According to Cimatu, a probe is already ongoing on the alleged damages on the coral reef, as well as on water and ambient air qualities caused by dolomite mining in the town.
Cimatu has directed the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau in Region 7 to conduct a water quality sampling on waters below the conveyor at the ship-loading facility, and ambient air quality.
The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-Cebu was ordered by the DENR secretary to determine the health condition of the corals which was the subject of the complaint made by the provincial government.
He also instructed the DENR Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau in the region to convene the Provincial Mining Regulatory Board of Cebu chaired by the bureau's regional director to discuss mining-related concerns.
Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has earlier ordered an investigation into the damage on the marine ecosystem as shown on aerial photos and videos presented to them.
Garcia had also issued a cease and desist order to DMC and PMSC for selling dolomite rocks as substitute for sand and gravel in the domestic market, which is not covered by their permits. Crushed dolomite rocks from Alcoy had been transported to Manila to fill a stretch of the Manila Bay for its beautification project.