DENR shuts down illegal quarrying site in Angono, Rizal

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday said it has shut down the operations of an illegal quarrying site in Angono, Rizal.

In a statement, the DENR said its Environmental Management Bureau IV-A on January 20 issued a cease and desist order (CDO) against the property developers as the quarrying activities were unauthorized.

“EMB Region IV-A issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against property developers,” the DENR said.

The regional office directed the company “to immediately halt all project activities and to submit the required compliance documents.”

These documents include an Affidavit of Undertaking committing to comply with all the directives and recommendations of the EMB as well as a progress report detailing corrective and preventive measures. 

The company was also directed to explain why sanctions should not be imposed.

“An inquest case was filed on January 21, 2026 before the Provincial Prosecutor of Rizal against the officers of the involved companies and the equipment operators,” the DENR said.

“The respondents face charges for violation of Section 103 (Theft of Minerals) of Republic Act No. 7942, or the Philippine Mining Act of 1995, which penalizes the unauthorized extraction and disposal of mineral resources,” it added.

The DENR conducted the crackdown following a report by a television program in August 2025 featuring the illegal quarrying activities in the town amid the protest of the residents.

On January 20, a full-scale enforcement operation was carried out by authorities in which they confirmed the illegal mineral extraction activities and apprehended several individuals operating heavy equipment. 

Among the seized equipment and materials, worth P133 million, were heavy machinery, trucks, mobile crushers, and large volumes of stockpiled and processed aggregates.

The DENR said the site forms part of a subdivision project. While the project holds several permits, the DENR noted that surveillance operations revealed unauthorized quarrying.

According to the DENR, the illegal activities included the operation of mobile crushers and hauling of quarry materials to a nearby dumping area near the Materials Recovery Facility along the Taytay–Angono Road in Barangay Kalayaan.—AOL, GMA Integrated News