A resolution filed at the House of Representatives calls for an urgent investigation into the environmental and economic impact of Chinese-led dredging operations in the Cagayan River, which have severely disrupted local livelihoods and marine ecosystems.
House Resolution 2278 filed by lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc directs the appropriate House committee to conduct an inquiry into the operations of Chinese firms accused of engaging in “environmentally destructive and exploitative activities.”
Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel pointed out as a central case the so-called Cagayan River Restoration Project, launched in 2021 under the Duterte administration.
The project, which involved large-scale dredging by Chinese firms, has been linked to the collapse of local fisheries and widespread ecological damage in coastal towns, particularly Aparri.
“Daily earnings reportedly dropped from P7,000 to P9,000 to as low as P900,” the resolution stated.
Local watchdogs and fisherfolk organizations, including PAMALAKAYA, have warned that the operations served more as a front for black sand (magnetite) extraction than genuine river rehabilitation. These concerns were reportedly ignored during the project’s approval, despite strong opposition from affected communities.
“While the dredging was suspended in 2023, its ecological aftermath continues to cripple the livelihoods of coastal communities, with no substantial rehabilitation or compensation provided to date,” the resolution read.
The resolution also connects the Cagayan project to a broader pattern of environmentally harmful ventures involving Chinese firms across the Philippines. It calls for legislative action to prevent “further exploitation by foreign corporate interests operating with impunity.”
“There is an urgent need to uphold national patrimony over our natural resources and prevent further exploitation by foreign corporate interests operating with impunity,” the lawmakers said.
They sought a full congressional inquiry in aid of legislation, aiming to ensure accountability and protection for coastal communities facing long-term ecological and economic damage.
