MINGLANILLA, Cebu –The Region 7 office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Mines Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the National Bureau of Investigation, recently seized 12 truckloads of sand and gravel materials here.

MGB 7 Regional Director Roger A. de Dios said the apprehension was due to the absence of transport documents, recycled delivery receipts and illegally sourced materials within the Mananga watershed area in this town. The seized materials have an estimated total volume of 50 cubic meters.

The trucks were turned over to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office. The truck operators will be slapped with a fine or penalty of P10,000 per violation in addition to the cases that will be filed against them by the NBI for violation of environmental laws.

De Dios said the interdiction team successfully flagged down the trucks coming from the Mananga area and checked their transport documents.

"There is no respite in our campaign against violators of environmental laws, particularly mining laws as some local officials especially when barangay captains fail to enforce and implement them," he said.

De Dios pointed out that extraction of sand and gravel in Mananga is a clear violation of the NIPAS law since it is a protected area.

He said the full implementation of environmental laws will be strictly enforced based on the instructions of DENR Secretary Jose Atienza to step up the department’s aggressive campaign against despoilers of the environment. Atienza earlier declared 2009 as a law enforcement year.