Posted on October 15, 2025
MANILA, Philippines—More than 9,000 small fisherfolk in the coastal towns of Santa and Caoayan, Ilocos Sur have been “adversely affected” by ongoing dredging operations in the mouth of the Abra River, according to the fishers’ group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA).
In a statement on Monday, PAMALAKAYA said that since 2024, the Isla Verde Mining and Development Company (IVMDC) has been conducting offshore dredging activities that have led to a sharp decline in fish catch and income for at least 9,538 local fisherfolk.
Before dredging began, small fishers reportedly harvested at least 100 cans of ipon (a type of goby), each can holding 17 liters. Today, they can collect only about 30 cans.
Fisherfolk also said they used to catch around 10 kilograms of kapiged (spotted scad) per trip—earning up to ₱1,600—but now return empty-handed when dredging vessels are active.
“Dahil sa ingay, polusyon, at malalakas na pagyanig, epektibong naitataboy ng mga dredging vessel ang karaniwang isdang nahuhuli sa dagat at bunganga ng Abra River.
Nagresulta ito ng malubhang pagbagsak ng kinikita ng mga maliliit na mangingisda,” said PAMALAKAYA national chairperson Fernando Hicap.
“Mahigit isang taon na ang perwisyong dala ng dredging operation sa mga residente sa tabing-dagat, subalit wala pa ring tugon ang mga kinauukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan na nauna nang nilapitan ng mga apektadong mangingisda,” he added.
The group called on Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla to look into the impacts of the dredging operation and order a site inspection by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regional office.
“Kailangang siyasatin ng DENR ang nagaganap na dredging sa Ilocos Sur, para mabigyan ng karampatang aksyon tulad ng agarang kanselasyon ng environment permit ng naturang proyekto,” Hicap added.
(The DENR must investigate the ongoing dredging in Ilocos Sur so that appropriate action can be taken, such as the immediate cancellation of the environmental permit for the said project.)
In a separate statement issued Sunday, PAMALAKAYA also flagged the possibility that the dredged materials are being hauled to Manila Bay for reclamation—projects that are supposed to be suspended following a DENR-commissioned cumulative impact assessment that warned of heightened flooding, public health risks, and fishery decline.
“For over a year of operation, fishers suffer from livelihood losses and other environmental degradation, such as coastal erosion, that threatens the fishing communities. Based on the initial study, fishers are losing 80 [percent] to 90 [percent] of their daily income because the dredging vessels and equipment effectively disrupt and drive away the fishes,” Hicap explained.
“Additionally, fishers are forced to go farther from their traditional fishing grounds, adding cost to their fuel expenses,” he continued.
