SAN JOSE, Antique – The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) clarified that there are no large-scale sand and gravel quarry operations in the province and being shipped to China.
MGB regional director Roger de Dios said he has no knowledge of any Mineral Ore Export Permit (MOEP) applicant in Antique or even in Western Visayas.
“There has been no MOEP applicant since October when I assumed as director,” he said on Tuesday.
De Dios noted the Provincial Mining Regulatory board chairman of Antique has also no knowledge of a large-scale quarrying permittee in the province.
“There are right now 94 permittees in Antique but there is no large-scale permittee,” he said.
De Dios said large-scale permittee that transports sand and gravel internationally would need a 50,000-ton cargo vessel to transport 30,000 cubic sand and gravel.
“It is impossible as it will be very costly for other permittees of sand and gravel to do “double handling” by using a smaller vessel from Antique and then transferring it to a bigger vessel for China,” he said.
Provincial Environmental and Natural Resources Officer Andres Untal meanwhile said if there are sand and gravel being shipped from Antique, it is only within the Philippines. (With a report from PNA/PN)
