Ilocos Sur town probes dredging near its waters

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The municipal government of Sta. Lucia said it would not tolerate unauthorized or environmentally harmful dredging within its jurisdiction, citing the need to protect marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The statement came after municipal officials inspected a dredging activity off Barangay Nangalisan on Monday, Sept. 7, to determine whether the operation falls within Sta. Lucia’s territorial waters and assess its possible environmental impact.

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The initial on-site assessment showed that the dredging site was about 1,933 meters from the identified municipal boundary toward Sabangan, an area under neighboring Sta. Cruz town.

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Mayor Joseph Simon Valdez, Vice Mayor Eduardo Toquero, members of the Sangguniang Bayan, barangay officials and representatives from the Municipal Engineering and Assessor’s offices joined the inspection, along with personnel from the police and Bureau of Fire Protection.

The local government said the measurement and site inspection form part of its continuing verification of the dredging operation’s exact location in relation to the boundaries of Sta. Lucia and Sta. Cruz.

Officials also documented conditions in the area and assessed the possible effects of the dredging on the coastal environment.

The municipal government said it would coordinate with concerned government agencies to determine whether the operation complies with environmental laws and other regulations. /mcm