A day before the new city administration took over in Dagupan on July, the stopped reclamation activity along the Calmay River beside the Jose R. De Venecia Expressway Extension has resumed.

It is unclear at presstime whether the regional office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has already lifted its cease and desist order (CDO) it issued early last year stopping the filling operation by a private company.

Trucks have been seen continuously unloading gravel in the area, which is quickly flattened by a bulldozer.

A nipa hut in the area used by the project’s foreman that was previously removed, has also been restored

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, presiding officer of the city council, said the council will invite EMB Technical Director Joel Salvador and other officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to appear during the question hour of the city council to apprise the city council on the status of the case.

“The invitation to Director Salvador will be in aid of legislation”, said Fernandez, adding that she too remembers that the filling up was stopped by the EMB as the operation was found to be illegal and a violation of environment laws.

Fernandez said Salvador will also be asked to shed light on the identity of the persons behind the reclamation project.

Salvador earlier described the operation in the area as “river reclamation” rather than a simple land filling operation.

The law requires that a proponent of a reclamation project must first secure a permit from the Philippine Reclamation Authority, which the company failed to produce.

Before the May 10 election, the company behind the project attempted to resume the filling activity but was again stopped again when then City Legal Officer George Mejia conducted an ocular inspection of the place.

As of April 5, Salvador told newsmen in Lingayen that he has not lifted the CDO issued against the reclamation project.—LM

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