Quarry operators seek mayor’s suspension
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The legal problems of Mayor Jaime Capil of Porac, Pampanga, continue to pile up. Aside from dealing with graft cases stemming from his alleged failure to regulate a Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo), he now faces two administrative complaints before the provincial board.
The provincial board received two complaints from quarry operators seeking Capil’s preventive suspension. Filed separately by Ralph John Carlos and Reynaldo Carlos, these are docketed as Administrative Cases No. 02-2025 and 03-2025.
The complainants alleged that Capil committed grave abuse of authority, grave misconduct, gross inexcusable negligence, and violations of the Anti-Red Tape Act and other applicable laws.
Board Member Claire David Lim, a lawyer, moved to refer the cases to the committee on justice, human rights, peace and order, good governance, and public accountability.
The complaints were filed as the protest of 40 quarry operators and 850 truckers dragged into its second week over reported double taxation and delayed permits. The groups announced the reopening of quarry sites and the resumption of hauling aggregates from Porac starting Friday.
Protests lifted
In a statement on Nov. 29, the Association of Porac Sand and Gravel Quarry Operators Inc. announced the lifting of their joint protest, which began on Nov. 21, over alleged double taxation, delays in the issuance of clearances, and constantly changing processes and policies.
Speaking to reporters, Capil denied that a protest was ongoing and that additional taxes were being collected.
Antonio Ayson, the group’s spokesperson, said Capil’s denials only revealed his alleged harassment of quarry operators, many of whom are the mayor’s political foes. Small-scale and large-scale miners extract aggregates from 170 hectares of private lands and riverbeds.
Ayson said their group sought understanding for their protest and apologized for the losses incurred by the provincial government, workers, and families that rely on the quarry industry.
According to the group’s estimates, the province lost around P1.505 million daily from the noncollection of P430 per truck from a maximum of 3,500 receipts. Each receipt covers payment of a P150 sand tax, P250 administrative fee, and P30 weighing scale fee for loads of 12 cubic meters or less.
The sand tax is distributed to the province, towns, and villages at a 30-30-40 percent sharing scheme allowed by the Local Government Code of 1991, according to Romeo Dungca, head of the quarry regulatory unit Kalam.
Funding
“Pampanga uses its quarry collections to fund social and health services,” Dungca said, emphasizing the impact.
The 15-day income losses could reach P38.25 million for quarry operators and P90 million for haulers, Ayson said.
Around 30 percent of haulers sourced sand outside Porac to offset losses.
“They ended up with backloads because buyers preferred Porac sand, especially vibro sand or material screened of pumice stones, and black sand or ore,” said Lennard Lansang, president of the haulers’ group.
Indirectly affected were 60 “hustlers,” or men who guide buyers to quality sand; 12 gasoline stations; 10 vulcanizing shops; 20 roadside eateries; and an undetermined number of sellers of stones for denim washing and bonsai pots, as well as retailers of sand and gravel by the sack.
The quarry industry boomed after Mt. Pinatubo spewed ash, sand, stones, and other volcanic sediments. The United States Geological Survey estimated the volume at 3 cubic kilometers, equivalent to about 300 million truckloads in the first few years.
According to the group, no dialogue was held with Capil, and they rejected a proposal to maintain a status quo, which would have meant continued payment of the P50 management fee and P50 ecological tax.
“We want to correct the policies on tax collection related to our operations, and we will do this through the proper legal process,” the statement said. “Whatever decision the court or the concerned agency issues, we will accept and follow it with full respect.”
