Questions on the Pangasinan River Restoration Project
THE 10-year River Restoration Project launched by the Pangasinan provincial government on August 22 at the Sison Auditorium deserves a big round of applause.
With the message “We are committed to making Pangasinan flood-free”, the provincial leadership has sent a powerful signal: An end to perennial flooding may finally be within reach. Such a vision deserves nothing less than full support.
Yet, certain details surrounding the launch cannot be ignored.
The presence of Bureau of Mines and Geosciences Regional Director Carlos Tayag at the event raised questions. Could this mean dredging or desilting is only a secondary concern, while the real agenda is extracting metallic and non-metallic minerals lying at the bottom of our rivers? We hope we’re wrong.
Governor Ramon Guico III said the project will be implemented through private sector participation, with not a single centavo to be spent by the provincial government.
While such an arrangement eases the burden on public funds, it opens another concern: Who ultimately benefits more, the people of Pangasinan or the companies eyeing the mineral-rich rivers? Let’s admit it. Even a corporate giant cannot afford to waste its money and resources on a project without expecting something in return.
Where will the recovered sediments go? Will the province get an equitable share of the profit if the sand generated from dredging is sold, and to whom? What about the metallic materials, such as magnetized sand and gold, if any?
It is no secret that Pangasinan’s waterways are rich in metallic deposits, including magnetized sand and even traces of gold. Experiences in the province of Cagayan, based on a recent PDI special report, show how magnetized sand eventually found its way to China, fueling its construction industry. Will Pangasinan follow the same path?
Indeed, restoring rivers to prevent flooding is a noble mission. But let us not lose sight of transparency, environmental safeguards, and the assurance that the welfare of Pangasinenses remains at the center of this endeavor.
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