Posted on July 14, 2025
‘If we do not dredge it, we might be blamed someday by the residents there if they are swept by flashfloods, so we have to act on it.’
Former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, President Emeritus of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and his younger brother, incumbent Governor Jerry Singson defended Saturday the ongoing dredging activities off the coastal town of Caoayan, Ilocos Sur.
“This is the first time, after quite long years, that we are dredging the shallow waters of Caoayan town, which causes the flash flood during the rainy season and we should be thankful about it,” Chavit told this writer.
“If we do not dredge it, we might be blamed someday by the residents there if they are swept by flashfloods, so we have to act on it,” pointed out Chavit.
“We all know that the coastal areas there are getting shallower yearly,” Singson pointed out.
This was seconded by incumbent governor Jerry Singson, in an interview by this writer inside the house of Chavit in Quezon City, who said that they understand the sentiment of the people in the coastal area of Caoayan.
“I have instructed the operators of the dredging to stop their operations until 8 o’clock in the evening so the people there would not be disturbed during nighttime,” Gov. Singson said.
The Singsons asked the public to be a little more patience as this dredging will benefit the community and avoid the possible flash flood during rainy seasons.
Singson’s action came following opposition by the Church leaders in Caoayan town who had even put up big signages in front and inside the Church, opposing the dredging operations.
The two Singsons asked the public for understanding as the dredging operations will be for the benefit of the community who were being flooded during rainy seasons.
Among the usually flooded areas during the rainy season are Anonang Mayor, Anonang Menor, Naguilian, Beddeng, Nansoagao, Tamurong, Caoayan town itself and neighboring areas.
Earlier, Church leaders and other opposition had criticized what they called “black sand operations” in the area.
However, when the Philippine Coast Guard certified that there were no such black sand operations in the area, particularly in the coastal town of Caoayan, the usually noisy opposition suddenly became silent.
But by this time, the opposition and Church leaders shifted their issue to dredging activities.
