Zambales gov’t denies Chinese hand in dredging
SAN ANTONIO, ZAMBALES—The provincial government of Zambales has denied claims that Chinese companies are involved in ongoing dredging operations in the province, following renewed calls from a national fishers’ group for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to revoke its order allowing large-scale river dredging in the locality.
In a statement, engineer Domingo Mariano, provincial consultant on engineering and infrastructure development, said there are no Chinese companies taking part in the province’s dredging activities under its River Restoration Program.
No permission
“We have not given permission to any Chinese company. We only have legitimate Filipino workers operating the dredging machines,” Mariano said.
He clarified that the vessels identified by some residents as Chinese-owned were purchased from China but are now Philippine-flagged and manned by Filipino crews who were approved by the Maritime Industry Authority.
Mariano asserted that the river restoration program complies with national regulations and has generated economic benefits for local governments through the sale of dredged aggregates.
According to him, taxes from extracted minerals are shared among the province (50 percent), local governments (30 percent), and barangays (20 percent).
The provincial share, Mariano said, funds scholarships, infrastructure, medical assistance, and fisheries support programs, including an P87-million fishing harvester vessel for local use.
Last week, progressive fisherfolk Pamalakaya urged the DENR to revoke Department Administrative Order No. 13, series of 2019, which authorizes massive dredging projects in Zambales’ major rivers.
River rehab
Under DAO 13, the projects were meant to rehabilitate heavily silted channels—including the Bucao River in Botolan, the Maloma River in San Felipe, and the Sto. Tomas River traversing the towns of San Marcelino, San Narciso, and San Felipe—to prevent flooding.
But Pamalakaya claimed the operations have instead devastated coastal and fishing communities.
“Contrary to what was stated in DAO 13, it was not river rehabilitation but destructive dredging carried out in the municipal fisheries of several towns in Zambales,” said Salvador France, the group’s secretary general.
Concerns over foreign involvement also resurfaced after Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima called on Malacañang to investigate reports linking China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd. to dredging operations in Zambales.
Residents have also raised alarm over the presence of foreign crew members in local vessels.
But provincial officials insisted that the river restoration efforts aim to prevent flooding and improve water flow.
