Cagayan de Oro community demands quarry shutdown amid worsening floods

The water that once pooled harmlessly in a community in eastern Cagayan de Oro has become destructive and life-threatening

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – For years, families living in the eastern part of Cagayan de Oro watched the floods rise in Barangay Bugo, each time increasingly violent.

One of them is Ruperto Gonzalo Buscato, who has been living in Phase 1 of Villa Trinitas Subdivision for over three decades. The water that once pooled harmlessly in his community has become destructive and life-threatening.

Buscato is one of the residents who have organized to demand that the city government revoke all quarry permits in Sitio Suntingon, Bugo, blaming the operations for worsening the flooding in their barangay.

“We are doing this for the welfare of the people. It is for public interest, nothing personal. We are after the safety of our children, families, and community,” said Buscato, whose group has been working to stop the quarry operations.

In October 2022 alone, he said, intense flooding hit Barangay Bugo due to a localized thunderstorm. More than 100 families were evacuated, and a man died while trying to rescue his family.

The barangay has begun desilting its creek as part of flood control measures, which Buscato claimed was necessary because of silt that allegedly came from nearby quarry operations.

The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO) confirmed that quarry permits were issued in Sitio Suntingon, Bugo. One has expired, while two remain valid until 2026.

The quarry operations cover a total of 138,222 square meters, based on resolutions of no objection approved by Bugo’s village council in 2019 and 2020.

Organized residents wrote to Cagayan de Oro Mayor Rolando Uy on Tuesday, January 28, appealing for the protection of Kagay-anons in Barangay Bugo.

Buscato said this was done after they received an “unsatisfactory response” from the city council’s environment committee during a January 17 hearing.

Under Section 45 of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, a local chief executive may cancel a quarry permit for violations of the law or permit conditions following an investigation.

Alleged irregularities

Buscato’s group questioned the legality of the permits after CLENRO confirmed there had been no reclassification of the land, arguing that quarrying is not allowed on agricultural land.

When asked if land conversion was necessary in the Bugo quarry areas, the City Agriculture Office told the committee that agricultural lands could be reclassified. It cited an example in Barangay Canitoan, where reclassification was recommended before a quarry operation.

CLENRO said no reclassification had been conducted since the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a clearance stating the area was outside “no-go zones,” or areas restricted from extractive activities.

According to CLENRO, the remaining quarry permits were issued to Genard Abejo and Yin Ji Incorporated.

However, the permit of Genard raised questions, as the barangay council resolution showed that the document was granted to Maria Teresa Abejo.

The same resolutions showed that Genard Abejo acted as attorney-in-fact for Maria Teresa Abejo. 

Go, who was the attorney-in-fact for Hernando Emano, was the holder of an expired quarry permit.

Genard Abejo told the city council’s environment committee that he is related to Maria Teresa Abejo and is renting the area.

Buscato and other residents also claimed there was no public consultation before the quarry operations began. This was confirmed by Noel Revil, president of the Phase 3-B Villa Trinitas Subdivision Homeowners Association, and Judson Pastrano, principal of Bugo National High School, both representing communities near the quarry sites.

In a January 10 letter to the schools division superintendent, Pastrano expressed concern that the school, located within a one-kilometer radius of the quarry site, faced safety risks.

“The lack of prior consultation is a serious concern, as it demonstrates a disregard for the well-being of our school community and the potential impact on our educational environment,” he wrote.

Last option

Buscato said they wanted to take legal action but lacked the financial means, so they called on the city government to act.

“We’re concerned citizens who are using all available administrative channels to address the illegal quarrying in Sitio Suntingon, which has devastated our mountains. These mountains serve as our community’s vital defense against natural hazards like flooding,” he wrote in his letter to the mayor.

On December 4, 2024, he also wrote to the barangay council seeking the repeal of resolutions of no objection issued to quarry operators. He said he has not received a response as of posting time.

Buscato said he and other residents don’t want to leave their homes, but if the government fails to act, they may be left with no choice but to relocate to escape the worsening floods. – Rappler.com