Posted on April 27, 2022
CAGAYAN — Representatives of different government agencies confirmed that the dredging activity at the mouth of the Cagayan River is part of the national government’s river restoration project as initiated by Governor Manuel N. Mamba.
Before the confirmation, the Region 02 Inter-Agency Environmental Monitoring Team on Tuesday conducted a spot inspection of vessels being used to dredge the Cagayan River in barangay Toran, Aparri.
The inspection was conducted by the team after a group of fisherfolk held a “Walk Protest Rally” in the town to call the Team’s attention to the alleged black sand mining operation.
The Cagayan Provincial Information Office said that among the agencies that took part in the inspection were the Department of Environment and Natural Resources( DENR), Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB ), Environmental Management Bureau ( EMB), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR ), all in region 2 and City Environment & Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Aparri.
The spot inspection of the dredging vessels lasted for almost an hour and it was confirmed that there was no black sand mining in the dredging activity in the Cagayan River.
Earlier, Governor Mamba explained that the Cagayan River is under rehabilitation and that the presence of large ships is due to the ongoing large-scale dredging activity to desilt the Cagayan River.
The provincial government added that the project is meant to control the flood and serve as a necessary “enabling activity for the reopening of the Aparri port and the establishment of an international seaport”.
