Local officials and residents in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental are at odds over a proposed multi-million peso dredging project at the mouth of the Tanjay River and nearby shorelines as opposition groups fear this is merely a “cover-up” of purported large scale mining operations for magnetite, commonly known as black sand.
During the regular session of the city council Monday morning, opposition Councilor Juanito Condes was to present a petition signed by at least 622 residents calling for the scrapping of the project to be undertaken by a foreign company.
However, this was moved to Sept. 24 after those invited to attend the session to shed light on the matter failed to appear, apparently to give themselves more time to prepare for questions thrown on the floor, said Condes.
The no-show personalities include concurrent City Administrator & City Legal Officer Atty. Arnel Vibar, Albert Golez, a representative of the foreign company Sino-Italy Construction Philippines Inc., Poblacion 4 Barangay Chair Serafin Catacutan, and Dr. Ely Alcala of the SU Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management.
Councilor Condes, a retired police officer, decried the agreement entered into between the Tanjay local government and the foreign company, saying that the effects of the planned dredging of the mouth of the Tanjay River will bring more destruction rather than benefits to the constituents and the environment.
Condes claimed that the supposed dredging project is just a front of more intense operations to quarry black sand which he says is in abundance in the area covered by the project, to include not just the mouth of the river but many kilometers of shoreline in Poblacion Barangay 4.
He also questioned the legality of the documents behind the project, noting some discrepancies such as the absence of a copy of a duly signed Memorandum of Understanding between the project contractor and the LGU.
Unless the documents are in order and that requirements have been complied with, Condes says he deems the dredging project illegal.
The Sino-Italy Construction Philippines, Inc., which is reportedly based in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tanjay City local government unit, represented by Mayor Lawrence Teves, shortly after the May 13 polls, to undertake a cost-free massive dredging project.
Teves on Monday explained the importance of the project, saying that unless it is carried out, Tanjay City will be “submerged” in flood waters in the coming months or years when a strong typhoon hits that city.
According to him, heavy siltation has formed at the river mouth, which causes the river to overflow and thus endangering at least ten or more villages.
Tanjay City has seen unprecedented flooding over the past few years, the mayor said.
He explained that the arrangement with Sino-Italy Construction is for the company to bring in heavy equipment and logistics to undertake the dredging at no cost to the City.
In return, the contractor will be allowed to extract the magnetite from the dredged materials since the City does not have the funds, estimated around P300- to P500- million, to spend for the project, Teves said.
The waste materials will be used for the city’s planned reclamation of 30 hectares at the seaport. “It is a fair arrangement that would benefit both parties, as well as the constituents of Tanjay City,” the Mayor added.
He also assured that the company has not started any activity yet until it has complied with the requirements.
The Sino-Italia has acquired an Environment Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Teves said.
Teves has described the move of the opposition as political in nature. (PNA/JFP)
