Posted on August 19, 2025
A pastoral letter read in Sunday’s Masses warns of its ‘peril’ to environment
CITY OF CALAPAN, ORIENTAL MINDORO, Philippines — Bishop Moises Cuevas of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan issued a pastoral letter read in Masses in churches across Oriental Mindoro on Sunday, strongly opposing the river dredging in the province, warning of its “heavy and irreparable damage” to the environment and the people’s livelihood.
The pastoral letter, dated Aug. 15, was released on Sunday amid the persisting debate on the massive dredging project in the province that is touted by the provincial government as a flood mitigation program but that environmentalists claim is disguised commercial sand mining.
Dubbed “For Truth, Unity, and Concern for Our Home,” Cuevas stressed he was not against river dredging if it is part of a genuine flood control plan based on science, free from commercial exploitation, with strict adherence to environmental safeguards and with transparent public monitoring, pursuant only to a Flood Master Plan with detailed engineering design and proper flood control methods.
However, “We strongly oppose large-scale commercial dredging, seabed or black sand mining and quarrying or any kind of mining in the rivers, coastal areas. When the priority of these activities is profit instead of the people and environment, the peril and possible result will definitely bring heavy and irreparable damage to the province,” the pastoral letter, written in Filipino, said.
Deep conflict
According to the prelate, the Vicariate fully supports the position taken in July by the provincial board (PB), which put on hold the river dredging work along the province’s coast and rivers, particularly in Gloria town, which is backed by Gov. Humerlito Dolor.
Cuevas, among others, commended the vigilance and zeal of the citizens, environmentalists, Mangyans, farmers, fishers, scientists, and government officials.
He also recognized that the province’s officials and its residents are now facing a deep conflict over this issue.
“It is unfortunate that public discourse is often filled with misinformation, incomplete facts, and personal attacks. We need to change this, we need a better conversation,” he said.
He also appealed for “dialogue, especially with those who share our beliefs; to stand up for the common good and only support projects that are environmentally friendly, socially just and financially viable; and to defend the poor and the powerless; and ensure that flood control projects do not harm the very communities they are intended to protect.”
Church has spoken
In a text message on Sunday, Vice Gov. Antonio Perez, the provincial board’s presiding officer, welcomed the release of the pastoral letter, noting that it carried a lot of weight in the ongoing discourse over the dredging activities in the province.
“Simbahan na ang umaayaw. Mabigat ‘yan (It’s the Church now saying no to the [project]. That meant a lot),” Perez said.
The provincial board, during its inaugural session on July 1, approved a resolution that revoked a measure approved by the previous board members, interposing no objection to the river restoration through massive dredging for the flood mitigation project of the provincial government.
The PB had declared that black sand dredging, whether done under the guise of river restoration or formal permitting, can result in “grave and irreparable injury” to marine ecosystems, agriculture, coastal stability and tourism.
The move has put the current PB in conflict with Dolor, on whose request the previous board had approved the massive dredging project in 2023.
The PB then directed Southern Concrete Industries Inc., China Harbor Engineering Co., San Miguel Aero City and parent firm San Miguel Holdings Corp. to “immediately cease and desist” from extracting, transporting, selling or otherwise disposing of black sand and related materials taken from the province’s municipal waters, coastlines or beaches.
The board said the ban will remain in effect pending its investigation into the environmental and legal ramifications of the ongoing operations.
The PB pointed to the complaints from residents of Gloria, which is known for its beaches, mangrove forests, and agricultural lands, who have reported sand extracted from the Balete River and nearby shorelines since May this year.
