Rosal revokes 72 quarry permits

Legazpi City– Gov. Noel Rosal has ordered the immediate revocation of 72 out of the 145 quarry permits issued by the past administration for various violations by the permittees.

Rosal issued Executive Order No. 43-2025  which cpntained the list of the affected quarry operators as he lifted the suspension of quarry operation all over Albay province today, October 16.

The governor said the decision was based on the reccommendations of the quarry audit team he organized which looked into the quarry operations in the province.

The audit team was composed of representatives from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office-LGU (PENRO-LGU), Provincial Engineering Office and the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office (APSEMO).

According to the governor the cancellation was recommended by the committee following a thourough review and inspection of the quarry operations wherein numerous serious violations were noted by the probe team.

Among the violations committed were over-extraction, violation of geologic assessment report, use of heavy equipment and extractions outside assigned areas which affected river channels.

Meanwhile, those with revoked permits were given three months to dispose of their quarry materials and will be summoned to a technical conference to apprise them of their violations, Provincial Administrator Raul Rosal said.

The official lamented the fact that violators will only be imposed P50,000.00 for their violations as stipulated in the law which is too small considering the damages done on the environment.

As a remedy, the violators will be required to rehabilitate the areas affected by their operations, the provincial administrator added.

Aside from the revoked permits, 53 other quarry operators were issued show-cause order for minor violations and will be required to immediately rectify their violations. Bicol Files