Regional Director Roger de Dios of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has ordered the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board in Negros Oriental, to apprehend and file criminal charges against violators of illegal quarry operations, regardless of political affiliations.

The Mining Act of 1995 directs the devolution to the local government units of the management and control over issuance of mining permits, he said.

The PMRB held a conference with De Dios last week at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall, at the Capitol. It was attended by representatives  from the Environment  and  Natural Resources  Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, mining  companies, provincial legal counsel Erwin Vergara  and  Bayawan City  Mayor  German  Saraña.

De Dios said he received reports that there are illegal quarry operations in some areas of the province, and that local chief executives are violating the Mining Act of 1995.

De Dios said that the DENR national office has recently directed his office to monitor all PMRB in Region 7. An administrative and criminal case shall be filed against those who violate the law, the directive said.

De Dios said the criminal case might call the attention of the violators to stop the illegal quarry operation.

Meanwhile, Vergara said the ENRD apprehended a truckload of sand allegedly extracted from Barangay Combado in Bacong town.

The provincial government under Gov. Emilio Macias II has issued a moratorium against extracting sand and gravel in any parts of Bacong and Sibulan towns.*MA

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