Makabyan bloc to pursue Cagayan dredging probe in 20th Congress

New members of the Makabayan bloc in the 20th Congress are expected to pursue an inquiry into the economic and environmental impact of dredging over the Cagayan River. Source: GOOGLE MAPS

MANILA, Philippines — New members of the Makabayan bloc in the 20th Congress are expected to pursue an inquiry into the economic and environmental impact of dredging over the Cagayan River.

Makabayan lawmakers — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel — filed House Resolution No. 2278 last May 6, but the measure was not taken up before the 19th Congress adjourned last week.

READ: Makabayan solons urge House to probe Chinese-led dredging in Cagayan

With all three Makabayan solons not returning to the 20th Congress, it will be up to the new set of lawmakers — ACT’s Representative-elect Antonio Tinio and Kabataan’s Representative-elect Renee Co, and potentially, Gabriela’s Sarah Elago — to refile the measure.

Sources told reporters that the measure will be refiled once lawmakers from the 20th Congress take office.

According to the resolution, two committees — the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources and the Committee on Natural Resources — should investigate the Chinese-led dredging operations over the Cagayan River, amid fears that the operations have damaged and disrupted marine ecosystems.

Makabayan said that the daily earnings of local fisherfolk, especially in Aparri, have dropped from around P7,000 to P9,000 to just P900.

“The so-called Cagayan River Restoration Project, launched in 2021 and led by Chinese firms, has caused extensive ecological disruption and economic loss to small fisherfolk, particularly in Aparri town, where daily earnings reportedly dropped from P7,000-P9,000 to as low as P900,” Makabayan said in the resolution.

“Fisherfolk and local environmental watchdogs, including Pamalakaya, have raised alarm over the large-scale extraction and export of black sand (magnetite) by Chinese dredging vessels,’ operating under the guise of river rehabilitation but in effect engaging in unchecked resource-exploitation,” they added.

Makabayan was referring to the dredging operations authorized last December 2020 by then Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, in a bid to widen the waterway after Typhoon Ulysses caused widespread flooding in Cagayan Valley provinces.

The dredging operations were expected to improve water flow along the river. However, many expressed concern that the dredging would negatively impact the environment.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) claimed that the dredging operations were a large-scale extraction of sand and minerals, which possibly damaged the marine ecosystem in the area.

Aside from the fisherfolk’s concerns, Makabayan noted that the Chinese firms doing the dredging have been involved in different controversial operations in other parts of the country.

“While the dredging was suspended in 2023, its ecological aftermath continues to cripple the livelihoods of coastal communities, with no substantial rehabilitation or compensation provided to date,” they said. “Chinese firms have been linked to other controversial and destructive projects across the country, raising broader concerns about their pattern of environmental disregard.”

“There is an urgent need to uphold national patrimony over our natural resources and prevent further exploitation by foreign corporate interests operating with impunity, and the fishing rights and livelihood of the small fisherfolk, rights against the ecological disaster of Filipino communities,” they added.

This is not the first time that Makabayan has spoken against the Chinese dredging operations. Last April 11, Castro said seeking accountability for the dredging operations in Cagayan province should not stop just because operations have ceased.

READ: ACT party-list backs calls to probe Chinese dredging in Cagayan

According to Castro, there should be a determination on the extent of the damage caused by the dredging operations, and which Chinese companies should be held responsible./coa