Gov. Ebdane defends dredging in Zambales by Chinese workers

Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on Tuesday defended the dredging activities of Chinese workers in coastal areas of the province.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Ebdane said the dredging activities have been conducted to clear the river from silts from the sand and lahar from the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption.

"Ang kaso dahil sa tumaas 'yung level ng ilog, ang tendency ng tubig lumabas sa bukid at nakakabaha (The problem is the river is swelling and causing floods in the fields),” he added.

Asked about the reported environmental damage due to the dredging activities, Ebdane said a channel should be created so that barges would be able to enter the river.

“Hindi ka makalapit sa bunganga ng ilog kung hindi ka gagawa ng channel. Siyempre tatanggalin mo muna ang kuwan para makadikit ka. 'Yun ang akala ng tao na baka masira iyong dalampasigan nila,” he said.

(You can't get close to the mouth of the river if you don't make a channel. Of course you have to remove that thing first so you can get close. That's what people thought might ruin their beach.)

On the alleged erosion, Ebdane said there were only “movements” in the seaside due to the winds and waves during the rainy season.

“Kapag tag-ulan, komporme sa ano ng hangin at alon, meron iyong panahon na madagdagan. Tapos iyong sumunod naman na season, nababawasan so para bang close-open. Pero hindi natin maalis talaga na gagalaw yung tabing-dagat pero hindi naman iyong kagaya ng sinasabi nila na natatanggal lahat,” he said.

(During the rainy season, depending on the movement of wind and waves, there were times it was increasing. Then the following season, it was  reduced so it's like close-open. But we can't really prevent the seaside from having movements but it was not like what they say that everything is removed.)

Asked if the sand were being brought to China, Ebdane said it cannot happen because the acitivity is being monitored by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources's Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

“Kung sino ang may kailangan ng buhangin, magsasabi sila sa amin (Those who need the sand, they have to tell us),” he said.

“Ang gagawin naman namin, ipapasa naman namin ang sulat sa MGB ng DENR. Babayaran muna nila 'yung bulto doon ng buhangin doon. Meron 'yung environmental fees at extraction fees. Kapag nakabayad sila, saka lang sila puwede kumuha,” he added.

(What we will do is forward the letter to the MGB of the DENR. They will pay for the bulk of the sand there first. There are environmental fees and extraction fees. Once they have paid, only then can they take the sand.)

Ebdane said that it would be a loss for the Chinese workers if they ship the sand to China because it would take them three to four days.

“Kung pag-aari ng China, kapag bumalik ng China hindi na makakaalis doon. At saka magra-travel iyan halos tatlo, apat na araw tapos babalik ulit. Lugi sila doon kung ganun ang ano nila,” he said.

(If it belongs to China, they would not be able to return once they arrive there. And then it will travel for about three, four days and then come back again. It would be a loss for them if that's what they are doing.)

“Hindi na pababalikin ng China rito. Sa katunayan noong una, ayaw nilang magpadala ng ganiyang makatulong dito,” he added.

(China would not allow them to come back here. Actually, at first, they do not want to send these kinds of help there.)

A Senate investigation into the "unabated" dredging activities allegedly conducted by Chinese workers in coastal areas of Zambales has been sought.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, has filed proposed Senate Resolution 966, saying these dredging activities could have a significant impact on the lives of the residents of Zambales who rely on fishing and may disturb the overall balance of the ecosystem.

In his resolution, Estrada cited the concerns of residents from San Felipe, Zambales on the ongoing dredging activities and the sighting of at least 14 dredging vessels allegedly being operated by Chinese crew members in the municipality.

He said the dredging activities were "justified" by San Felipe Mayor Reinhard Jeresano as these are supposed to fortify flood mitigation schemes in the heavily silted rivers and that the extracted sand is being transported to some reclamation area.

The flooding, however, was refuted by the residents, according to Estrada.

He said that the dredging activities are being carried out by state-owned China Harbour Engineering Co., which he noted is the world's second largest dredging company and a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC).—AOL, GMA Integrated News