Illegal sand quarrying remains unabated in Cagayan River

TUGUEGARAO CITY – Despite protest from the local Catholic Church and lack of permits, illegal sand quarrying continues along the Cagayan River, threatening to cause floods and affect irrigation due to the flow of sea water into the river.

The quarrying operations, reportedly financed by Chinese groups, go on unabated in the northern coastal towns in Cagayan up to the mouth of Cagayan River.

Fr. Rex Singson, of Camalaniugan town, said the illegal activities, if not stopped, would eventually destroy thousands of hectares of farmlands and irrigation systems, especially those near the mouth of Cagayan River.

“We earlier had made formal complaints with the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) on this matter but to no avail, since the contractors have not heeded our complaints,” Singson lamented.

Fr. Manny Catral, of the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao, echoed Singson’s fears, saying the continued quarrying could lead to the submerging of some villages in the northern coastal areas.

“What if the silt has become so deep, what if water from the sea will flow back and saltwater will begin to stream down, what will happen to our farms?” he asked.

Local contractors are reportedly being financed by Chinese groups to quarry sand from the Cagayan River delta because of its much higher value than inland sand. 

Lawyer Gil Aromin, regional director of the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, said the quarrying operators do not have any environmental compliance certificate (ECC) from the government. 

“Since this a violation of the law, we will be constrained to issue a cease and desist order against (them),” Aromin said.

But the church officials lamented the DENR’s alleged inability to stop the quarry operations despite being aware that they lack permits.

“I have seen it with my own eyes and we have already voiced out our complaints to the DENR but to no avail,” said Singson.