From quarry to tourism: permanent land-use shift approved

By Nimfa L. Estrellado Liga ng mga Barangay President Romulo “Mholy” Gayeta leads a committee meeting where proposals to convert quarry sub-...

By Nimfa L. Estrellado

Liga ng mga Barangay President Romulo “Mholy” Gayeta leads a committee meeting where proposals to convert quarry sub-zones into tourism and public utility areas were discussed as part of efforts to permanently stop quarrying in Sariaya. (Kap Moly Predilla Gayeta)

SARIAYA, Quezon — Quarrying has long divided the municipality, as residents and local groups raised persistent concerns about environmental damage and its long-term effects. Over the years, major changes to the natural landscape and growing risks to communities near quarry sites fueled repeated calls for stricter rules and lasting measures to protect the town’s natural resources.

In response, the municipal government of Sariaya recentlt approved a zoning ordinance that permanently changes areas once designated for quarrying into a Tourism and Public Utility Subzone. As a result, quarry operations are no longer allowed under the town’s official zoning rules, and by changing how the land is classified, the municipality placed a clear and enforceable ban on quarrying.



Through Municipal Ordinance No. 2025-02, the Sangguniang Bayan of Sariaya approved the measure during its regular session on October 27, 2025. The ordinance amends the town’s Revised Zoning Ordinance of 2018 by removing the “Quarry Sub-Zone” classification and replacing it with land uses focused on tourism and essential public services.

Unlike earlier actions that relied on temporary suspensions, the zoning ordinance gives the quarry ban lasting legal force. The new land classification now blocks the issuance of future quarry permits within the affected areas.

Years of public opposition to quarrying shaped the policy shift, with momentum building after a signature campaign backed by about 80,000 residents who called for stronger environmental protection. During the administration of former mayor Marcelo P. Gayeta, the local government suspended quarry operations following consultations with affected communities and barangay leaders.

Mayor Marivic T. Gayeta said the zoning change directly answers long-standing public demand to stop quarry operations and reflects the administration’s commitment to environmental protection. She emphasized that the policy places sustainability at the center of the municipality’s development direction.

“Natupad na ang matagal nang kahilingan ng ating mga kababayan na ihinto ang quarry operations sa ating bayan. Paninindigan natin ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan para sa kapakanan ng susunod na henerasyon,” the mayor said.

She added that the ordinance does not reject development but reshapes it to align with long-term environmental goals and community needs. The approach, she said, ensures that economic growth moves forward in ways that protect natural resources while still delivering tangible benefits to local communities.

“Hindi laban sa kaunlaran ang desisyong ito kundi gabay para sa maayos at responsableng pag-unlad ng Sariaya. Layunin nating magbukas ng oportunidad sa turismo at serbisyong panlipunan nang hindi sinisira ang ating likas-yaman,” the mayor said.

At the legislative level, Romulo “Mholy” Gayeta, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay and ex-officio councilor, who also chairs the committees on Barangay Affairs and Environment and Natural Resources, sponsored the ordinance. The proposal sought to replace extractive land use with activities that deliver long-term benefits to both the community and the environment.

“Hinihiling natin ang habang-buhay na pagpapatigil ng quarry sa ating bayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-amyenda ng Quarry Sub-Zone tungo sa Tourism at Public Utility Sub-Zone, sapagkat kulang ang limampung taon upang maghilom ang sugat na iniwan ng quarry sa ating bayan, kaya kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa,” Gayeta said.

As sponsor of the measure, Gayeta said the zoning amendment reflects years of environmental advocacy and the need for decisive action after decades of quarry-related damage. He stressed that the decision prioritizes long-term responsibility and environmental healing over temporary or partial solutions.

“Hindi na sapat ang pansamantalang solusyon sa problemang matagal nang dinaranas ng ating bayan. Panahon na upang magdesisyon para sa pangmatagalang kapakanan ng kalikasan at ng susunod na henerasyon. Responsibilidad nating mga lingkod-bayan na unahin ang kapakanan ng bayan kaysa pansariling interes,” he added.

Under the ordinance, the reclassified zone allows only activities that protect the environment and serve public needs, including eco-tourism activities such as hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, and nature trips. It also allows environmental programs like tree planting and river maintenance, rehabilitation projects, and the construction of facilities that support water and irrigation systems, subject to regulatory approval.

The new zoning classification expressly prohibits quarrying and other forms of resource extraction, including commercial quarry operations, large-scale excavation, and any activity that involves the removal of earth, rock, or natural materials for commercial or industrial purposes within the reclassified areas.

Provincial authorities must approve the ordinance before the zoning change can take full legal effect and move to official implementation. Once approval comes through, the ordinance will bind all future land-use decisions within the affected areas of the municipality.

After clearance, the ordinance will provide Sariaya with a permanent legal basis to prevent the return of quarrying activities. It also directs future land use toward environmental protection, tourism development, and essential public services aligned with the municipality’s long-term sustainability goals.