Re-Orientation On Issuance Of Permits, Apprehension Of Violators Held

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) heightened its information, education and communication campaign on mines and geosciences services by conducting in February a series of re-orientation on the procedures in the issuance of permits and apprehension of violators of the Revenue Code of Cebu.

The campaign was held in three venues, namely Barangay Magdugo, Toledo City (for District 3); Argao Training Center, Argao (for Districts 1,2 and 7); and Barangay Poblacion, Danao City (for Districts 4, 5 and 6) on Feb. 17, 23 and 26, respectively.

It aimed to equip the barangay officials and Police Environmental Desk Officer of those identified areas with active sand and gravel and quarrying operations the important points of the Revenue Code of Cebu 2008-10.

Gov. Hilario Davide III is considering a barangay resolution endorsing an individual or a corporation to engage in sand and gravel and quarrying activities in their respective place in issuing permit. The resolution must state the total applied area, which should be less than 5 hectares. Beyond this, the applicant must seek approval from the Deparment of Environment and Natural Resources through the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

The governor’s permit is classified as Small Scale Mining, Quarry, Industrial Sand and Gravel, Commercial Sand and Gravel, Commercial Guano and Special Disposal Permits. Only those with Governor’s Permits can avail of the delivery receipts (DR).

Barangay officials must be vigilant in checking the DRs being presented by the permittee/hauler when transporting the materials from the permitted area to its stockpile area. In this way, they cannot only monitor the volume which should not go beyond 10 cubic meters but also ensure that using of DR is properly observed.

A speaker from the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, Edna Obeñita, reminded the local government units (LGUs) of the sharing from the extractions. The barangay gets 40 percent of the 10 percent fair market value of the extracted material per cubic meter while the municipality or city and the province get 30 percent each.

The LGU or the barangay can also get a share from the fines imposed upon apprehended violators. Obeñita added that the apprehending LGU can get 25 percent share of the fines. Average fine of violations is P10,000.

“We are encouraging our barangay officials to actively participate in the protection of our environment and at same time, help PENRO and the Philippine National Police in the enforcement of the Revenue Code of Cebu,” said PENRO Officer-in-Charge Atty. Czareem Joseph U. Estella.

“Gov. Davide is reminding the LGUs to always consider the environmental protection over monetary gains from this venture to ensure that the ‘Pagpanalipod sa Kalikupan, Kalambuan sa Matag Sugbuanon’ is observed,” he added.

By Timi-Lou Q. Manalili

www.cebu.gov.ph