Capitol enters compromise deal with ALQC

The original assessment, issued by the Provincial Treasurer, totaled P1,218,630,650.84 and covered Tax on Extraction (Section 124), Monitoring Fees (Section 125), Environmental Enhancement Fees (Section 220), plus accumulated penalties and interests.

- 

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said a significant portion of the P1.2 billion stemmed from extraction fees imposed on quarry materials taken from private lands.

"Actually kanang 1.2 billion nga extraction ana, it comes from the private land. APO was extracting in private land. Unya 80% anang 1.2 billion comes from extraction fee," said Baricuatro.

She explained that nearly 80 percent of the total assessment came from extraction charges computed at 10 percent of the market value of materials extracted.

BACKTRACING

To recall, former governor Gwendolyn Garcia urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke the Mineral Production Sharing Agreements (MPSAs) of Apo Land and Quarry Corporation (ALQC) over alleged environmental violations and unpaid local taxes.

ALQC, which operates multiple quarry sites in Naga City and other parts of southern Cebu, was among the firms ordered to halt operations through a series of cease-and-desist orders issued by the Capitol beginning December 2024.

The suspension covered all areas under its MPSAs pending environmental audits and risk assessments.

Garcia cited findings of extraction discrepancies, including a university study that showed ALQC extracted about 3.9 million metric tons of limestone in 2018 — which was higher than the 1.5 million metric tons it reportedly declared during the year of the Naga landslide.