Residents of Barangay Silonay, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro opposed the planned dredging of their coastline and the adjacent Barangay Maidlang. They expressed their opposition in a public consultation held on May 9, with the support of the Mindoro Forum Network (MFN), Alyansa Laban sa Mina, and barangay officials.

Residents immediately acted and spoke out against the dredging after large trucks arrived at the mouth of the Silonay-Bucayao River for sand testing on April 29. They were alarmed because this was a preliminary step for dredging that could affect their environment, livelihood, and residential lands.

The Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources attended the consultation. The residents also invited the office of Governor Bonz Dlor and members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

According to the MFN, “the purpose of the public consultation was to clarify the due process for these kinds of projects, allow affected communities to present their position on the issue, and add knowledge regarding the definition and effects of dredging.”

Responding to the residents, the CENRO and PGENRO said that the dredging project in Silonay and Maidlang coasts was still at the application stage and not yet in full implementation. They claimed having no idea who owned the large trucks that entered the two barangays.

The agencies also refused to reply to the residents’ request as to the description of the dredging project planned for the area. “For the people of Silonay and Maidlang to write their position, they first need to know the description of this dredging project to serve as the basis for their decision,” said Evelyn Cacha, a local environmentalist who has long stood against mining on the island of Mindoro.

GC8 Dredging and Reclamation Corporation, the company pushing for dredging in the area, did not attend the consultation but sent a letter denying they sent the trucks.

“At present, the question remains as to how the large trucks entered and who gave them permission to go to the barangays and conduct sand testing,” according to the MFN.

“We live peacefully in Barangay Silonay… First, we live here. Second, the sea is our livelihood,” vendor and Barangay Silonay resident Fe Rabino said.

At the end of the consultation, the residents prepared steps to oppose the dredging. “The residents know that the public consultation held is just the beginning of strengthening their unity to fight destructive projects on the island of Mindoro,” according to the MFN.

On May 7, Barangay Silonay passed a resolution against dredging. On the same day, the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Calapan City issued a resolution to formally oppose dredging and sand mining in the rivers and barangays along the city’s coast.

According to the resolution, these should be opposed because they will destroy the marine ecosystem, intensify the impact of disasters, and endanger the livelihood of local fishers.