The Philippines: Negros Oriental CDO on Dredging Still in Effect

The cease and desist order (CDO) issued by Governor Roel Degamo in behalf of the provincial government of Negros Oriental against Sino-Italy Construction Philippines, Inc. to refrain from conducting dredging operations in Tanjay City remains in effect.

Atty. Richard Enojo, concurrent provincial administrator and provincial legal officer, on Tuesday said the CDO has not been and will not be withdrawn because Sino-Italy still has a pending application for dredging of the Tanjay City River.

Capitol will only revoke the cease and desist order if Sino-Italy will cancel its application for dredging which is now pending with the provincial Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD).

For now, the provincial government has no plan to withdraw it, according to Enojo.

Enojo explained that Governor Degamo had issued the CDO at the height of the Tambacan controversy after residents and other anti-mining advocates put up a protest against the dredging project of Tanjay River which they alleged was just a front for a more lucrative and massive mining operations for black sand.

Sino-Italy then applied for a dredging permit with the provincial government even as it insisted there was no need for that as they had the necessary permits from regional and national government agencies to carry out the supposed dredging operations in Tambacan.

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Press Release, March 18, 2014