Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) called the order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to board and inspect all dredgers working on Manila Bay reclamation projects as “long overdue”.

Jaybee Garganera, ATM National Coordinator, added that “PBBM should have not only ordered the inspection of these dredgers but also suspended all dredging activities whether they are for reclamation projects or river dredging.”

PBBM issued the order following a report by a maritime security analyst on how a Chinese ship has broadcast at least 30 different identities while shuttling between a Manila Bay reclamation site and a Zambales dredging site for two years.

“In addition to the security risks and sovereignty issues involving Chinese vessels engaged in dredging activities, numerous violations abound regarding reclamation projects and river dredging permits,” Garganera said. “Particularly in Zambales, dredging extends beyond the dredging zones allowed by river dredging permits. Also, these permits are used to undertake what are actually seabed quarrying activities – which is prohibited by law!”

“We have previously aired our suspicion that the sand taken from Zambales, and other areas like Mindoro, are being used for the Manila Bay reclamation projects. Many Zambales residents have also previously reported the presence of Chinese ships in their seas. Yet, the PBBM administration has failed to investigate and act on these reports,” he said.

Garganera said that despite the belated order of PBBM, he hoped this would lead to a more thorough investigation of anomalies in reclamation and dredging projects. “The harsh impacts on communities, including fish catch among fishermen, must be surfaced. Violations of permits and environmental clearances must eventually lead to the suspension, and even cancellation, of all existing projects.”

The ATM National Coordinator also urged local officials to be vigilant of dredging activities in their territories. “When permits are violated, and environmental concerns are ignored, local authorities should follow the measures undertaken by the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro – that is, suspend all dredging activities in their area.”

He also warned that issuance of dredging permits might lead to more environmental damage and negative impacts on people’s livelihoods and way of life. “In particular, the municipality of MacArthur Leyte is being threatened by dredging operations. The fragile ecosystem of Marinduque, which has been devastated by the Marcopper mining disaster in 1996, is also now under threat by dredging activities. The island has already suffered so much, they do not need any more environmental catastrophes,” Garganera concluded.