CEBU Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has issued Executive Order (EO) 13, Series of 2025, extending the cease-and-desist order against Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) for another 30 days, effective March 25, 2025.
The order, made public by Sugbo News, Capitol’s media arm, on Tuesday, March 25, prohibits ALQC from conducting any earth-moving operations in its quarry sites in Naga City, Cebu.
The extension aims to allow the continuation of an environmental audit and a comprehensive area risk assessment of its Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) areas.
ALQC, the principal supplier of raw materials for Apo Cement Corporation, has been directed to immediately stop all earth-moving activities, refrain from any actions that could revive the prohibited operations, and comply with all necessary directives until the audit and assessment are completed.
The order was signed at the Cebu Provincial Capitol on March 24, 2025.
Garcia has issued a total of four cease-and-desist orders (CDOs) against ALQC since December 2024, citing environmental and safety concerns.
Garcia first issued EO 22 on December 2, 2024, citing the 2018 landslide in Barangay Tinaan that resulted in over 70 deaths.
This was followed by EO 2, issued on January 10, 2025, which extended the previous order for continued environmental assessments.
On February 17, 2025, Garcia issued EO 5, further extending the order, before it lapsed on March 20, 2025.
The latest order, EO 13, continues the directive to halt operations, making it the fourth CDO issued by the Cebu Provincial Government against ALQC. (CDF)