FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.NO. 386 
f 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution mandates that the State shall responsibly promote the exploration, 
development, utilization, and conservation of all its mineral resources. The State also 
recognizes the need to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced ecology 
and a wholesome and healthy environment. Moreover, the Philippine Mining Act of 1995 
provides for the proper exploration, development, utilization and processing of all 
mineral resources in the country. 
Quarry wastes are a largely unavoidable by-product of the extraction and processing of 
aggregates. They are defined as wastes because no market currently exists for them, but 
unlike many other wastes they are generally inert and non-hazardous. Quarry wastes are 
generally considered as waste materials and cause an environmental load due to disposal 
problems. 
The type and amount of wastes depend on the nature of the operation. Most slmd and 
gravel workings do not produce much, if any, pennanent waste. Even so, it shall be the 
duty of the State to ensure that the communities living near the quarrying sites as well as 
the environment be protected and remain healthy. 
This bill seeks to mandate licensed sand and granite quarrying contractors to practice 
proper disposal of waste derived from their quarrying activities. 
. In view of the foregoing, immediate approval ofthis measure is earnestly sought. 
1 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.NO. 386 
~. 
I 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
MANDATING 
LICENSED 
SAND 
AND 
GRANITE 
QUARRYING 
CONTRACTORS TO PRACTICE PROPER DISPOSAL OF WASTE MATTER 
IN QUARRYING SITES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled 
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Section 1. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the policy of the State to 
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responsibly promote the exploration, development, utilization, and conservation of all its 
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mineral resources. The State also recognizes the need to protect and advance the right of 
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the people to a balanced ecology and a wholesome and healthy environment. 
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Sec. 2. EJjluent Water to be Free from Mud. - Every licensed sand quarrying 
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contractor shall only use fresh water in connection with his sand quarrying operations and 
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shall make such provision or take such steps as will ensure that all the water, before it 
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leaves the sand quarrying area on which it has been so used, is freed from any mud, sand, 
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silt or any other refuse of the sand quarry which is likely to interfere with the natural flow 
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of water in any river, stream, channel or watercourse. 
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The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in coordination 
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with the Local Government Units (LGUs) may, by notice in writing, require any licensed 
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sand quarrying contractor to provide such spillways, retaining walls, brush dams, settling 
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pits and other mechanical appliances or devices as the DENR and the concerned Local 
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Government Unit may consider necessary for effectual compliance with paragraph (1) of 
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this Section and may also order the licensed sand quarrying contractor to suspend his 
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sand quarrying operations until such provision has been made. 


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The compliance of the licensed sand quarrying contractor with a notice or order 
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made under paragraph (2) of this Section shall not affect any liability incurred by any 
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licensed sand quarrying contractor arising from a breach of paragraph (1) hereof. 
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Sec. 3. Disposal of Waste Matter. - The DENR may give such directions in 
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writing as it may consider necessary for the disposal of all earth, sludge, dirt, sand, silt or 
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other waste matter from any sand or granite quarry. 
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The DENR may, by notice in writing, require any licensed quarrying contractor 
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to take such precautions and to construct and maintain such drains, spillways, channels 
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and other works as may in its opinion be necessary to ensure that earth, sludge, dirt, sand, 
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silt or other waste matter from any sand or granite quarry will not be carried or washed 
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away by storm water or by fresh water used for the purpose of working the sand or 
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granite quarry to any place not being a place where the same may lawfully be deposited. 
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Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DENR together with the 
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Department of Interior and Local Government, as well as the various Local Government 
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Units (LGUs) shall promulgate the rules and regulations for the effective enforcement of 
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the provisions of this Act. 
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Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part thereof 
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be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid 
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ones, shall remain in full force and effect. 
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Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, issuances, rules, and regulations or 
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parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation., 
Approved, 
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