In October 2022, a localized thunderstorm sent floodwater through Barangay Bugo in Cagayan de Oro, forcing more than 100 families to evacuate and claiming one life during a rescue attempt. Residents blamed the severity of the flooding on silt from nearby quarry operations that had clogged the creek. The same month, Calamba City Mayor Roseller Rizal suspended a subdivision project and imposed a moratorium on all development activities in mountainous areas after heavy rains caused floodwater to block traffic along the highway in Barangay Pansol, with quarrying on private lands at the foot of Mt. Makiling cited as a contributing factor. These two events, separated by hundreds of kilometers, point to a pattern: quarrying operations in the Philippines are increasingly linked to worsening floods and degraded air quality, raising questions about how these activities are permitted and monitored.
How Quarrying Disrupts Water and Air
The core problem is that quarrying physically alters landscapes in ways that compound over time. Removing vegetation and topsoil eliminates the natural sponge that absorbs rainfall. Exposed rock and soil erode faster, sending sediment into drainage systems. When creeks and rivers fill with silt, they can hold less water, so even moderate rain causes flooding that previously would have been absorbed. The same dust that chokes waterways also hangs in the air, affecting anyone living or working downwind.
Who Issues the Permits and Who Pays the Price
Understanding who is responsible for quarry oversight is critical, because the answer varies by location. Nilo Tamoria, DENR Calabarzon director, stated that some quarrying operations fall under local government jurisdiction and are subject to DENR oversight. The DENR assesses permit eligibility and regularly monitors existing permits for compliance. In Cagayan de Oro, CLENRO confirmed that quarry permits were issued for sites totaling 138,222 square meters based on resolutions from Bugo’s village council in 2019 and 2020. The permits were issued to Genard Abejo and Yin Ji Incorporated, though Genard Abejo’s permit raised questions because the barangay resolution listed it under Maria Teresa Abejo. Genard Abejo stated he is related to Maria Teresa Abejo and is renting the area.
This layered permitting system creates accountability gaps. A barangay council can pass a resolution supporting a quarry permit, the city environment office can issue it after the MGB clears the area, and the DENR provides oversight — but residents in Bugo claimed there was no public consultation before operations began. The principal of Bugo National High School highlighted the lack of prior consultation, given the school’s proximity to the quarry site. When flooding hit in October 2022, residents organized to demand revocation of all quarry permits in Sitio Suntingon, but they faced a legal system that requires resources they do not have.
Complications in Enforcement and Land Classification
Agricultural Land Without Reclassification
CLENRO noted that no land reclassification occurred for the quarry sites in Bugo. Quarrying is not allowed on agricultural land without reclassification, yet permits were issued. The City Agriculture Office stated that agricultural lands can be reclassified, citing Barangay Canitoan as an example, but this process was not followed in Bugo. This procedural gap means that even if a permit is technically valid under MGB clearance, it may violate land use regulations — a contradiction that leaves residents without a clear enforcement path.
Private Land vs. Protected Areas
In Calamba, DENR Director Tamoria clarified that the quarrying activities posted on social media are not within the Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve but are on private lands. This distinction matters because the DENR has direct authority over protected areas, while private land quarrying falls under local government jurisdiction with DENR oversight. The public often assumes any quarrying near a protected area is illegal, but if it occurs on private land with a valid permit, the legal recourse is different. The mayor’s moratorium on development activities in mountainous areas of Barangays Pansol, Bucal, and Bagong Kalsada addresses this by stopping new permits, but it does not automatically revoke existing ones.
Expired Permits and Successive Operators
In Bugo, a previous permit holder — Go, attorney-in-fact for Hernando Emano — held an expired quarry permit. The current operators, Genard Abejo and Yin Ji Incorporated, received permits after the barangay council resolutions in 2019 and 2020. This succession of operators makes it difficult for residents to track who is responsible for environmental damage. If silt buildup in the creek is the result of years of quarrying by multiple operators, assigning liability for cleanup becomes a legal puzzle.
What Communities Can Do
Document and Report to the LGU and DENR
Residents who observe quarry-related flooding or dust should document incidents with photos, videos, and timestamps. File a formal complaint with the barangay captain and the city or municipal environment office. If the local government does not act, escalate to the DENR regional office, which assesses permit eligibility and monitors compliance. In Calamba, the mayor’s moratorium shows that local executives can act when presented with evidence of harm.
Demand Public Consultation and Permit Transparency
Under the Philippine Mining Act, local government units are required to conduct public consultations before issuing quarry permits. Residents in Bugo claimed no consultation occurred before operations began. Communities can request copies of barangay resolutions and permit applications from the CLENRO or the city mayor’s office. If a permit was issued without consultation, that is grounds for a formal challenge under Section 45 of the Mining Act, which allows cancellation for violations of conditions or law.
Push for Land Reclassification Compliance
If quarrying is happening on agricultural land without reclassification, residents can file a complaint with the city legal office or the Department of Agrarian Reform. The City Agriculture Office in Cagayan de Oro confirmed that reclassification is possible, but it must happen before quarrying begins. A permit issued without reclassification may be procedurally invalid, giving the local chief executive a basis for cancellation after investigation.
Consider Relocation as a Last Resort
Residents in Bugo stated they do not want to leave their homes but may relocate if flooding worsens. This is a difficult trade-off: staying means continued risk of flood damage and respiratory issues, while leaving means losing community ties and property. Communities should explore relocation assistance from the local government or the Department of Social Welfare and Development before flooding forces an emergency evacuation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a quarry permit be revoked after it is issued? ▾
Who issues quarry permits in the Philippines? ▾
Is quarrying allowed on agricultural land? ▾
What should residents do if quarry dust affects their health? ▾
Can a school near a quarry site be relocated? ▾
What is the difference between a quarry and a mine? ▾
What to Watch For Next
The cases in Calamba and Cagayan de Oro show that quarrying’s impact on air and water is not a remote issue — it affects communities near urban centers, with schools, homes, and infrastructure at risk. The legal framework exists to regulate these operations, but enforcement depends on local government action and community vigilance. If you live near a quarry site, the most important step is to know who issued the permit, whether the land was properly classified, and whether a public consultation was held. These are the points where the system can be held accountable. If this was useful, you might also want to read how urbanization challenges are tackled in Metro Manila.
Sources
The cost of pollution: how environmental degradation hurts the Philippine economy — Explains the broader economic impact of environmental damage, including quarry-related flooding and health costs.
Filipino waters face pollution problems — Covers water pollution sources and their effects on communities, relevant to silt runoff from quarrying.
Calamba flooding blamed on quarrying. Philstar, 2025.
Cagayan de Oro quarry worsening floods. Rappler, 2025.
