Persistent China-linked dredging in Zambales hit

MANILA, Philippines —  Opposition Rep. Leila de Lima again expressed exasperation over the continued large-scale dredging in Zambales, particularly the reported use of Chinese vessels, warning that the operations threaten the province’s coastal environment, fishing grounds, and the livelihoods of local communities.

The senior deputy minority leader filed House Resolution 1601, seeking a congressional investigation into dredging activities in Zambales’ rivers, estuaries and coastal waters, including reports of Chinese vessels operating in the area.

“So many questions need to be answered with this really bothersome dredging in Zambales which also requires immediate action. We won’t allow this alarming issue to be ignored or left unaddressed,” the former senator and justice secretary said.

“We need to know the real truth here not just for the purpose of identifying the culprit behind the abuse, neglect or inadequacies, so that operations like these will not be repeated anymore, precisely because this threatens our Mother Earth, and livelihood of our kababayans,” De Lima said.

The Mamamayang Liberal party-list representative said the probe should establish the extent of foreign involvement in the operations, determine where the extracted materials are being brought, and identify possible violations of environmental laws.

“With large-scale dredging unabated, coastal erosion and loss of livelihoods unresolved, and questions regarding the foreign vessels involved, the volume of materials dredged and their destination still unaddressed, every day of delay in conducting an inquiry into the matter poses greater risks of further and potentially irreversible damage to coastal areas, fishing grounds, and the communities that depend on them,” De Lima warned.

She also called for stronger safeguards, transparency mechanisms, and accountability measures to ensure that dredging and reclamation activities do not come at the expense of the environment and affected communities.

The lawmaker’s renewed push comes amid persistent complaints from environmental groups, including the Zambales Ecological Network, Save Our Shores Zambales, and the Institute for Area Management, which have questioned whether supposed flood control and river restoration projects are being used to facilitate large-scale sand mining and extraction.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources issued Administrative Order 2019-13 in October 2019, establishing exclusive dredging zones in heavily silted river systems, particularly the Bucao, Maloma and Sto. Tomas rivers in Zambales.