ZAMBOANGA CITY – In a decisive move to address the dwindling revenue and rampant policy violations in the city’s sand and gravel industry, Zamboanga City on Friday, July 4, convened a meeting with 123 accredited permittees to push for stricter enforcement of regulations and propose ordinance amendments.
City officials expressed alarm over persistent reports of underreporting and unregulated hauling of sand and gravel, prompting the local government to explore measures that would strengthen compliance with environmental and fiscal policies.
“This is not just about revenue, but also about protecting our environment and ensuring fair play among all stakeholders,” said city officials during the meeting. They emphasized the urgent need to regulate both extraction and transport of sand and gravel to prevent further environmental degradation and uphold local and national laws.
Supporting this call for reform, former mayor and congressman Celso Lobregat, now serving as Secretary to the Mayor and Chief of Staff, cited a sharp decline in revenue collection—from P12 million during his administration to just P3 million under the previous leadership.
To plug the leak in government income, the City Treasurer’s Office is set to intensify checkpoint operations in barangays Sinubong, Patalon, and Labuan along the west coast, while similar checkpoints will soon be established in the east coast. These efforts aim to ensure that payments from permit holders are properly collected and documented.
Among the proposed changes to the existing ordinance is the imposition of specific operational hours: extraction activities will be allowed only from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., while transport of materials will be permitted from 6:00 a.m. to midnight. All operations, however, must still adhere to the city’s truck ban policies.
The city government underscored that these measures are meant to curb underreporting, ensure equitable resource use, and safeguard the environment. “We are not against business—we are against abuse,” they said.
Present at the meeting were City Administrator Percival Ramos, City Treasurer Romelita Candido, Acting City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Gerry Pollisco, Atty. Senon of the City Legal Office, Business Permits and Licensing Officer Benjie Barredo, representatives from the City Agriculturist Office, and other concerned agencies.
The local government expects that with the reforms and tighter monitoring in place, Zamboanga will see not only increased revenue but also a more sustainable and transparent sand and gravel industry.