A fisherfolk group has blamed former president Rodrigo Duterte for the sharp drop in fish catch in Cagayan province, pointing to the “China-backed” dredging operations in the Cagayan River approved during his term.

In a statement on Thursday, April 3, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) said the dredging project, carried out by Chinese companies and presented as a flood control measure, has instead disrupted marine life and hurt the livelihood of local fishers.

“This is the direct result of Duterte’s betrayal. He allowed Chinese companies to dredge our rivers under the guise of rehabilitation, and now our fishers are the ones paying the price,” Pamalakaya Secretary General Salvador France stated.

Per France, small fishers in Aparri and other Cagayan coastal towns have seen their income fall drastically—from P7,000 per fishing trip to as low as P900.

“That barely covers fuel. Families that rely on fishing are now struggling to survive,” he said.

The fishers’ group said the dredging operations were not handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but instead handed over to foreign firms during Duterte’s administration.

Also, France raised concerns that the dredging is being used as a cover for black sand (magnetite) mining, which he said is being extracted and exported by Chinese firms.

“These are not simple dredging activities. These are disguised black sand mining operations. The black sand being hauled out of Cagayan River is worth millions. And our fishers get nothing but empty nets and murky waters,” he said.

Pamalakaya is calling for a full audit of the project’s approval under the Duterte administration, and accountability for the damage to the river’s ecosystem and local economy.

“We want the river restored. And we want Duterte held accountable,” France said.

France said a cumulative impact assessment should be conducted to determine the full ecological, social, and economic consequences of the project.

“This is not just about isolated environmental disruption. It is about the compounded damage to marine biodiversity, livelihoods of small fishers, and the integrity of local communities,” he said.

“Any large-scale intervention like this must be subject to comprehensive and transparent evaluation, especially given the involvement of foreign entities and extractive interests.”

Currently, Duterte is detained by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, pending his trial for alleged crimes against humanity related to his administration’s controversial war on drugs.

The former president was arrested on March 11 by the Philippine National Police (PNP) upon his return from Hong Kong, following an arrest warrant issued by the ICC.

Dredging operations in the Cagayan River began in February 2021 as part of a government initiative to mitigate flooding in the region.