Residents of Barangay Bugo, Cagayan de Oro City, succeeded in stopping the quarry operation in the mountainous area of Sitio Suntingon, which was managed by an individual named Genard Abejo. The operation, covering 44,111 square meters or 4.4 hectares of land, was halted after the City Environment and Natural Resources Office issued an order to stop it.

According to the local agency, the company violated several agreements and conditions leading to the suspension of its operations. The agency issued the order during the last week of February. Abejo’s permit, approved by the Barangay Bugo council in 2019, is set to expire in 2026.

Residents considered the suspension of the quarry operation a victory, as they believed it caused severe flooding in their community in recent years. “The suspension of the operation demonstrated the power of determination and unwavering upholding of the truth,” Barangay Bugo resident Ruperto Gonzalo Buscato said in an interview with Bulatlat.

Among others, the quarry operation reportedly violated improper implementation of the quarry’s benching scheme, which resulted in excessively high walls that breached the approved agreement. The area also reportedly had holes that posed significant risks of collapse.

Additionally, the local agency discovered that the quarry operation exceeded its agreed-upon coverage. It also directed the quarry owner to conduct rehabilitation efforts in the affected area.

Before the suspension of the quarry operation, Buscato had repeatedly approached local government offices and agencies to urgently address their demands. He attended a meeting in January with the city council to express opposition to the quarry but officials ignored him. Despite this, residents continued with their appeals and protests.

Residents said the local government must explain why it took so long and why it only “discovered” the violations of the quarry operation much later. “The fight is not over,” said Buscato.

Residents are also currently pushing for a halt to other quarry operations in their barangay. They are urging barangay officials to immediately approve an ordinance banning quarrying activities in mountains and rivers within their jurisdiction.