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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Illegally quarried adobe stones found underneath hectares of rice farm in Bulacan

Illegally quarried adobe stones found underneath hectares of rice farm in Bulacan

Published Sep 7, 2022 09:00 am

The Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) discovered illegally quarried high-grade adobe stones hidden underneath more than 5-hectares of rice farm in Sitio Alimasag, Barangay Camangyanan, Sta Maria, Bulacan.

In his report to Gov. Daniel R. Fernando, BENRO Chief Julius Victor C. Degala, said discovered adobe stones were not covered by a quarrying permit.

Fernando led the surprise inspection at the quarry site with the BENRO team, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) led by Maj. June Tabigo-on, and the Provincial Public Affairs Office headed by Katrina Anne B. Balingit.

They discovered four deep pit bowls of quarries including an exhausted one where stones were extracted and filled with rainwater at a depth of more than 10 feet which may pose danger to residents in the vicinity.

Fernando said he will meet with the municipal government regarding the illegal quarrying activity.

It was found out the quarry has been operating for several years as part of a five-hectare farmland. Residents found underneath the farmland a deposit of volcanic tuff, a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption and commonly used for buildings and landscape gardening. It costs P150 to P600 per block.

Fernando, dismayed over the discovery of the illegal quarrying activity, ordered the BENRO to monitor 24/7 the area after finding out that the illegal miners were using manual tools in extracting minerals to avoid detection.

Degala said the BENRO and the CIDG arrested five persons on Sept. 2 while in the act of illegally digging adobe stones in the place.

The suspects are now facing charges for Mineral Theft under Republic Act 7942, Section 103; Section 71-A of the Provincial Ordinance C-005 or the Environmental Code of the province of Bulacan and Executive Order No. 21, Series of 2022, which mandates the temporary suspension of quarrying activities.

BENRO has started conducting an investigation into the illegal quarrying.

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