Progressive fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has called on Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla to investigate the ongoing offshore dredging operations in Ilocos Sur, which the group said have caused severe income losses to more than 9,000 small fisherfolk in the province.

Pamalakaya said the dredging project by the Isla Verde Mining and Development Company (IVMDC), which began in 2024, continues to “adversely affect” at least 9,538 fisherfolk in the coastal towns of Santa and Caoayan. The group claimed the activity has drastically reduced fishers’ daily catch and disrupted traditional fishing grounds near the mouth of the Abra River.

Before the dredging started, the group said small fishers could harvest about 100 cans (17 liters each) of “ipon,” a species of gobies found in freshwater streams. Today, they can only gather around 30 cans, according to the group.

The fishers’ organization also reported that local fishers who used to catch about 10 kilograms of kapiged (spotted scad) and earn up to P1,600 per trip now catch almost nothing due to the dredging barges’ continuous operation.

“Dahil sa ingay, polusyon, at malalakas na pagyanig, epektibong naitataboy ng mga dredging vessel ang karaniwang isdang nahuhuli sa dagat at bunganga ng Abra River (Because of the noise, pollution, and strong vibrations, dredging vessels effectively drive away the usual fish caught in the sea and at the mouth of the Abra River),” Pamalakaya Chairperson Fernando Hicap said in a statement.

“Nagresulta ito ng malubhang pagbagsak ng kinikita ng mga maliliit na mangingisda (This has resulted in a severe drop in the income of small fisherfolk),” he added.

Hicap lamented that despite more than a year of complaints from affected residents, concerned government agencies have yet to take concrete action against the dredging operation.

“Mahigit isang taon na ang perwisyong dala ng dredging operation sa mga residente sa tabing-dagat, subalit wala pa ring tugon ang mga kinauukulang ahensya ng pamahalaan na nauna nang nilapitan ng mga apektadong mangingisda (It has been over a year since the dredging operation has caused disturbance to coastal residents, yet the concerned government agencies that the affected fisherfolk initially sought help from have not acted),” he said.

Pamalakaya urged Lotilla to direct the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) provincial environment office to conduct a site inspection and a “cumulative impact assessment” to determine the full environmental and livelihood impact of the dredging.

“Kailangang siyasatin ng DENR ang nagaganap na dredging sa Ilocos Sur, para mabigyan ng karampatang aksyon tulad ng agarang kanselasyon ng environment permit ng naturang proyekto (The DENR must investigate the ongoing dredging in Ilocos Sur to take proper action, such as the immediate cancellation of the project’s environmental permit),” Hicap stressed.

As of press time, the environment department has yet to issue a statement.