THE Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) is endorsing the proposed dredging of the Dagupan River from its delta towards upstream by a Manila-based construction company that will undertake the activity using its own funds, with not a single centavo as counterpart from the city government. In return, it will have sole right to sell dredged sand for local use.

Resolution No. 6106 endorsed the project to be undertaken by the Dumduma Construction and Trading Corporation, whose representative Teddy Go said is a triple A contractor. In a talk before the SP, Go denied that the project is an offshore mining nor for the recovery of black sand and neither intends to sell the dredged sand overseas to fortify the man-made islands of China in the West Philippines sea.

Dumduma Construction is different from the Iron Ore Gold and Vanadium Resources Philippines Inc. that was granted by the national government a Financial Technical Assistance Agreement to conduct exploration in the Lingayen Gulf prior to applying for an ECC for its large-scale mining project.

However, Go said while his company has no plan to sell the dredged materials to foreign companies he said it may consider it but definitely it would not be for the West Philippine sea.

He acknowledged that recovery of black sand is mining, which is not the intention of his company.

Councilor Jose Neto Tamayo added as one of the conditions in the resolution that no dredged materials from the Dagupan river can be sold for the purpose of fortifying the islands built by China in the West Philippines Sea while Councilor Luis Samson Jr. said Dumduma Construction should pay the taxes that is due the government in connection with the sale of dredged materials from the Dagupan rivers.

Another conditions is for the project to source 10 percent of the unskilled labor for the project in Dagupan City.

Go said the Dagupan SP resolution is a requirement of the process needed for the purpose of securing a permit from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

He told the SP that the dredging of the Pantal River will start 400 meters from its delta located between Barangay Pugaro and Sabangan, Bonuan and towards upstream, adding that work can start in a period of six months to one year once the permits are secured.

Majority Floor Leader Michael Fernandez said the SP endorsed the project because the delta at the mouth of the Dagupan river has constricted the flow for water from the upstream to the sea, compounding to the perennial flooding problem in Dagupan.  (Leonardo Micua )

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments