THE livelihoods of around 3,000 workers tied to Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) remain in jeopardy following the Cebu Provincial Government’s extension of the cease-and-desist order (CDO) on the company’s quarry operations in the City of Naga.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia issued Executive Order (EO) 13, Series of 2025, on Monday, March 24, 2025, extending for another 30 days the suspension of earth-moving activities by ALQC, citing the need to continue environmental audits and area risk assessments in its mineral production sharing agreement areas.
The governor also issued EO 14, extending for a month the CDO issued against Solid Earth Development Corp., suspending its earth-moving activities in its quarry sites in San Fernando.
The two orders took effect on Tuesday, March 25, according to a report from the Provincial Government’s official media arm.
In a phone interview Tuesday, City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong said about 100 workers are directly employed in quarrying, while the total affected workforce, including contractors and related jobs, may reach 3,000.
Chiong said financial assistance is difficult to deliver due to election-related restrictions.
The disbursement of public funds is prohibited from Friday, March 28, to May 11, in connection with the midterm elections on May 12. This ban aims to prevent the misuse of government resources for electoral advantage. However, the Commission on Elections has exempted more than 20 social welfare programs implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Chiong said the fate of the workers now depends on the decision of Governor Garcia.
“Maayo tingali imong pangutan-on si governor og unsa iyang plano sa mga tawo... Actually, siya ra man ana (You might want to ask the governor about her plans for the employees... actually, it’s really up to her),” Chiong said when asked as to the fate of the employees facing the halt of quarry operations.
ALQC is the main supplier of limestone, clay, and greywacke — raw materials for cement production — for Apo Cement’s plant.
Fourth extension
EO 13 marks the fourth CDO Garcia has issued against ALQC since December 2024, all citing environmental and safety concerns.
The first, EO 22, was issued on Dec. 2. It was prompted by serious safety concerns after officials observed continued quarrying in landslide-prone areas.
The governor’s order mentioned the memory of the September 2018 Naga landslide (within ALQC’s quarry site) that killed at least 77 people, raising alarm over ALQC’s compliance with safety standards
In her order, the governor noted an “apparent disregard for the safety of the inhabitants” living near the quarry. The pause would allow for a thorough environmental audit and risk assessment of ALQC’s sites.
ALQC initially challenged EO 22 in court. The company filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and injunction, claiming “grave and irreparable injury” to its business due to the CDO. Governor Garcia appeared in the hearing in December to defend the order on behalf of residents at risk. During the proceeding, ALQC withdrew its petition, and the case was dismissed, effectively upholding EO 22.
EO 22 was followed by Garcia’s issuance of EO 2, extending the CDO for another 30 days starting Jan. 10, 2025. The Province justified the extension by stating that the environmental audit and comprehensive area risk assessment were still ongoing and needed more time
The governor’s EO 5, issued on Feb. 17, again extended the halt on ALQC’s quarry operations for another 30 days, starting on Feb. 18. This marked the third consecutive cease-and-desist directive against ALQC since December.
EO 13 continues the suspension after the last order lapsed on March 20.
As for SEDC, EO 14 is the third CDO issued to the company, which supplies materials to Taiheiyo Cement Philippines.
The first CDO against SEDC took effect last Jan. 10, after Garcia issued EO 3.
The company was notified in a meeting at the Capitol on Jan. 8 before EO 3 was signed. In that meeting attended by SEDC officials and other government officials, the Province raised serious concerns about SEDC’s operations, including possible discrepancies in reported extraction volumes
SEDC did not publicly contest the order in court.
Govenor Garcia issued the second CDO against SEDC after signing EO 6, which extended the suspension of the company’s quarry operations for another 30 days from Feb. 18. This order told SEDC to continue complying with the earlier halt (EO 3) and kept its quarry and port activities on hold in all affected barangays.
The Provincial Government reiterated that both ALQC and SEDC must fully comply with environmental regulations and risk assessments before any operations can resume. / CDF