THE Cebu Provincial Government has ordered a 30-day halt to quarrying operations of two companies in the south as it continues to assess environmental conditions and potential risks posed by their earth-moving activities.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued another round of cease-and-desist orders (CDO) on Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, against Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) in the City of Naga and Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) in San Fernando, extending her previous executive orders (EO) that expired last Feb. 10.
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The governor directed ALQC and SEDC to halt all earth-moving operations starting at noon Tuesday, Feb. 18.
The temporary shutdown may affect the supply chain for cement production in Cebu, particularly for Apo Cement and Taiheiyo Cement Philippines Inc., as the Provincial Government continues its environmental review.
ALQC is the principal supplier of limestone, clay and greywacke — raw materials used in cement production — for Apo Cement’s plant in the City of Naga, while SEDC is a quarry company supplying materials to Taiheiyo Cement Philippines, which also operates in San Fernando.
The 30-day CDOs reinforce a previous directive to allow the continuation of an environmental audit, comprehensive area risk assessment and the determination of the carrying capacity of the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) areas of ALQC and SEDC.
An MPSA grants a private entity the exclusive right to conduct mining operations within a contract area while the government shares in the gross output.
EO for Apo
For ALQC, EO 5, series of 2025, extends EO 2 (issued on Jan. 10, 2025), which ordered the firm to cease all earth-moving operations.
“It has come to our attention that there is a need to reinforce the directives of the previously issued executive order for the continuation of the environmental audit, comprehensive area risk assessment, and the determination of the carrying capacity of the MPSA areas,” read a portion of EO 5.
EO 2 extends a previous CDO under EO 22, issued on Dec. 2, 2024, citing the need for additional time to complete environmental assessments.
Garcia’s EO 5 is the third CDO that the governor issued against ALQC.
The first CDO order was issued on Dec. 2, 2024. It cited the landslide that occurred in Barangay Tinaan on Sept. 20, 2018, “within or near” ALQC’s MPSA area. The disaster resulted in more than 70 deaths.
The previous order stated that “the continuing earth-moving operations in said areas [are] in apparent disregard of the safety of the inhabitants living within and/or near the said areas.”
The order further noted that after a preliminary risk assessment, there was an urgent need to review the environmental audit, comprehensive area risk assessment and the determination of the carrying capacity of the MPSA areas.
ALQC operates quarry sites in several barangays, including Pangdan, Tinaan, Naalad, Mainit, Inoburan and Langtad.
EO for SEDC
Meanwhile, Governor Garcia’s EO 6, series of 2025, directs SEDC to comply with EO 3, series of 2025.
This is the second CDO issued against SEDC, which conducts quarrying and port operations in Barangays Tinubdan, Tananas, Tonggo, Basak, North Poblacion, South Poblacion and Panadtaran.
Garcia reiterated that the directive is a preventive measure aimed at protecting communities near quarry sites. She stressed that compliance with the order is mandatory and that authorities will monitor enforcement closely.
Both ALQC and SEDC are expected to submit a comprehensive safety plan within 30 days to address identified risks. (CDF)
