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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Fishers urge DENR chief to scrap order enabling large-scale dredging in Zambales

Fishers urge DENR chief to scrap order enabling large-scale dredging in Zambales

Published Nov 4, 2025 03:34 pm
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
Progressive fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) has called on Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Raphael Lotilla to revoke Department Administrative Order (DAO) No. 13, series of 2019, which it said authorized massive dredging operations in Zambales.
DAO 13, issued in 2019, was intended to regulate dredging projects aimed at restoring silted rivers in San Felipe, San Narciso, San Marcelino, and Botolan. 
But Pamalakaya said the measure has paved the way for large foreign-operated dredging ships, rather than local desilting equipment, to extract materials from the seabed within the province’s municipal waters.
“Taliwas sa nakasaad sa DAO 13, hindi rehabilitasyon ng ilog, kundi mapaminsalang dredging ang isinagawa sa mga munisipal na pangisdaan ng ilang bayan sa Zambales (Contrary to what is stated in DAO 13, it was not river rehabilitation but destructive dredging that was carried out in the municipal fishing grounds of several towns in Zambales),” Salvador France, the secretary general of Pamalakaya, said in a statement.
“Nagdulot ito ng pagbagsak ng kabuhayan ng mahigit 5,000 mangingisda sa mga bayan ng San Felipe, San Narciso, at Botolan (This has caused the collapse of the livelihood of more than 5,000 fisherfolk in the towns of San Felipe, San Narciso, and Botolan),” he added.
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
(PHOTO: PAMALAKAYA)
France noted that aside from the damage to fisheries caused by pollution and the strong vibrations from ships that drove fish away, the operations also resulted in the collapse of houses, structures, and coastal roads due to the gradual depletion of sand along the shoreline.
“Hindi na dapat mag-atubili ang DENR na repasuhin ang DAO 13 dahil matagal nang inirereklamo ng mga mangingisda, residente, at negosyante ang mapaminsalang epekto ng dredging sa kanilang araw-araw na pamumuhay (The DENR should no longer hesitate to review DAO 13, as fisherfolk, residents, and business owners have long been complaining about the harmful effects of dredging on their daily lives),” he said.
According to Pamalakaya, around 10 dredging ships were operating only a short distance from the San Felipe coastline as of October, resulting in heavy coastal erosion that destroyed homes, roads, and resorts. 
Sought for comment, the DENR has not issued any statement as of press time.

Related Tags

DENR PAMALAKAYA Zambales dredging fishers Philippines
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