The governor of Lanao del Sur has ordered the shutdown of illegal mines and sand and gravel quarries in the province effective September 1, 2025 via an executive order he signed on Thursday morning, July 31.
Gov. Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Jr. sealed with his signature the Executive Order 008, Series of 2025, in his office in Marawi City, in the presence of his subordinate-officials in the Lanao del Sur Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Adiong had told reporters, after affixing his signature to the document, that the September 1 validity of the Executive Order is meant to give local government units, the police and the military enough time to stop all illegal mining and quarrying operations in Lanao del Sur, which has 39 towns and covers more than 90 barangays in its capital, Marawi City.
The Executive Order covers all forms of extraction of mineral deposits and large-scale sand and gravel quarrying anywhere in Lanao del Sur without clearance from Adiong’s office.
“This shutdown order shall be implemented strictly,” Adiong said.
He said one of the objectives of the Executive Order is to ensure the preservation and efficient utilization of the mineral deposits and sand and gravel that are obtainable in different towns in Lanao del Sur.
“This is for the benefit of all sectors in Lanao del Sur,” Adiong said.
He said poorly managed mining operations in the upland areas in Lanao del Sur can upset the ecological balance in Lake Lanao, the source of freshwater fishes that inland fishermen sell to the markets in Marawi City and towns around.
“Lake Lanao is the catch basin of water from rivers in mountain ranges in the province,” Adiong said.
Adiong said they will enlist the support of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade covering Lanao del Sur in enforcing the Executive Order.
Photo show Adiong signing Executive Order 008, Series of 2025, at his office in Marawi City, seat of the Lanao del Sur provincial government. (July 31, 2025, Marawi City, Bangsamoro Region)