Posted on April 9, 2025
MANILA – The dredging operations in the Cagayan River have already ceased as early as 2023, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the dredging of the Cagayan River was stopped “allegedly due to poor market condition of the dredge materials.”
“The private sector engaged [in dredging operations] had been stopped operation or had stopped operations in 2023 pa po,” Castro said, citing the statement from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ regional office in the Cagayan Region.
“Matagal na po itong ipinahinto at matagal na po itong walang activity sa nasabing lugar about dredging po (It has been stopped for a long time and there has been no activity in the said area regarding dredging),” she added.
Fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) earlier blamed former president Rodrigo Duterte for the sharp decline in fish catch in Cagayan River because of massive dredging operations carried out under his watch.
Pamalakaya said the river dredging project initiated during Duterte’s term and carried out by Chinese contractors caused serious damage to the local fishing industry.
The dredging project is a “direct result of Duterte’s betrayal,” allowing Chinese companies to dredge the Philippine rivers “under the guise of rehabilitation,” Pamalakaya added, stressing that fishermen are “the ones paying the price.”
The dredging activities in the Cagayan River started in February 2021, as part of the Duterte government’s initiative to mitigate flooding in the region.
