MGB-7, PNP to intensify campaign against illegal mining in Central Visayas

 CEBU CITY – Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB)-Region VII has officially empowered members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) through a new Order of Deputation to act as Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENRO) to intensify campaign against illegal mining and quarrying in Central Visayas.

"We believe that the best way to safeguard our environment is through shared responsibility. Through the formal ‘deputization’ of law enforcement, we are strengthening our enforcement network to ensure the sustainable management of our mineral resources in the region," said OIC Regional Director Al Emil Berador.

Berador emphasized that the move is a strategic shift toward a "community-driven" approach to environmental stewardship and to intensify law enforcement in a unified front against these illegal activities across the region.

Through the order of deputation, these officers are now authorized to investigate, arrest violators, and seize illegally sourced minerals along with the conveyances, including trucks and heavy equipment used in these unauthorized activities, Berador added.

MGB-7 conducted the Enforcement Training on Anti-Illegal Mining to the newly deputized officers on March 18 with a firm understanding of mining laws, translating complex technical regulations into applicable field protocols.

Mining Claim Examiner Engr. Jacob Densing led a comprehensive session on the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 (RA 7942), clarifying the vital distinctions between mining permits issued directly by the MGB/DENR and those issued by LGUs under devolved functions.

MGB-7 Legal Officer Atty. Gleen Revilla-Maravilla established the legal framework for their new roles as Deputy Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENRO), focusing on strict protocols for the apprehension, arrest, and seizure of illegally sourced minerals and the conveyances such as trucks and heavy equipment used in unauthorized extractions.

This authority is grounded in Section 9 and 103 of RA 7942, DAO No. 2010-21, and the revised ‘deputization’ guidelines under DAO No. 2008-22. The training and oath-taking of the newly deputized personnel, were held on March 18 at the CIDG Conference Room in Camp Sotero Cabahug, Cebu City, marking their formal entry into the bureau's enforcement network.

Police Captain Joseph Elmer Cornea of the CIDG expressed gratitude for the training, noting that the “deputization” empowers the PNP to act decisively against environmental violators while ensuring all field operations remain within the bounds of the law. (Photos: MGB7/Google Images)