LAOAG CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday stopped all quarry operators from extracting sand and gravel at the Bolo river in Ilocos Norte.
In a May 13 cease and desist order issued by Regional Director Carlos Tayag, Officer-in-Charge of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), 14 quarry operators along the Bolo river covering the municipalities of Bangui, Dumalneg, Pagudpud were found operating without the necessary permit from the DENR or from the provincial government of Ilocos Norte.
On Wednesday,Florante Nicolas, Information Officer of Ilocos Norte Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) said key DENR officials, led by Regional Directors Reynulfo Juan, Ma. Victoria Abrera of the Environmental Management Bureau, Tayag of MGB and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Victor Dabalos, served the order to the illegal quarry operators in Bolo river.
Nicolas identified the quarry operators as Vice Mayor Francis Espiritu of Dumalneg, Joy Soriano, Jovelyn Taggaoa, Florencio Dy, Denton Garvida, Analiza Garvida, Marino Faylogan,Praxedes Castillo, Joseph Castillo, Rajan Benemerito, Gensie Palima, Edimar Ubasa, Estrella Bacong and Joseph Acio from the municipalities of Bangui, Dumalneg and Pagudpud.
As stated in the order, said persons were given 72 hours upon receipt of the order to explain why they should not be charged with theft of minerals.
“All those who were conducting quarry activities at the Bolo river were issued with cease and desist order and they can only resume operation if the DENR permits them to do so,” Nicolas said. (Leilanie Adriano/PNA)
