DENR suspends dolomite mining by two firms in Cebu

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu has suspended the mining of dolomite in Alcoy, Cebu.

According to a report on State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, Cimatu suspended the operations of the Dolomite Mining Corp. and the Philippine Mining Service Corp.

The dolomite crushed for use in the DENR's white sand project in the Manila Bay came from Cebu.

Cimatu said the DENR wanted to determine whether dolomite mining was adversely affecting the water, air, and corals in the area.

He ordered the Environment Management Bureau in the area to study the air and water quality, as well as the condition of the corals in the nearby waters.

The environment watchdog group Knights Stewards of the Sea recently said that the transportation of dolomite damages the corals when they fall into the sea. -NB, GMA News