THE Mines and Geo-Sciences (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has stepped up its campaign against environmental law violators with the confiscation of illegally sourced minerals.

MGB Director Roger A. de Dios said that from January to Nov. 3 this year, there have been 39 apprehensions and the violators were fined P5,000 per violation.

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Most of the apprehensions were made in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City, cities of Talisay, Mandaue, Toledo and Dumaguete, and the towns of Consolacion and Compostela.

Last month, landowner Peter Po complained of illegal quarry on his land in Sitio Tayong, Talamban, which is covered by a hauling permit issued by the Cebu City Government.

De Dios said that DENR Jose Atienza declared 2009 as environmental law enforcement year as its flagship program to address the problem of illegal quarrying and mining operations.

“DENR Secretary Atienza has been very serious in curbing these activities,” de Dios said.

He said the effects of illegal mining and quarrying operations include the loss of revenues (taxes and fees), environmentally unsound practices, unsystematic and unsafe operations, and unrehabilitated or abandoned mined-out areas.

De Dios said the common violations are the transport or shipment of mineral products without ore transport permit (OTP) or delivery receipt (DR), and misdeclaration of entries required on the OTP or DR.