No dredging yet in Aklan River, dredger to move out

Before tensions get worse, MV Zhong Hai 18 of Globe Bulk Services Philippines Corporation docking in Sibuyan Sea near the mouth of Aklan River was ordered to “move out”. The vessel is commissioned by Santarli (STL) Panay Resources Company to dredge the silted Aklan River. 

Engr. Roger Esto, spokesperson of multi-partite monitoring team, said residents protested the dredger’s presence in the area, about 500 meters from the mouth of Aklan River, after they documented the alarming activities of MV Zhong Hai 18. 

Bakhaw Norte village chief Maribeth Cual said they took photos and videos of the vessel initially ‘dredging’ in the mouth of Aklan River. 

Cual said the proposed dredging activities have the risk of riverbank collapse and soil erosion which might lead to displacement of several families in Bakhaw Norte, an island off the capital town of Kalibo. 

They are also worried that if the dredger would continue to pump sand out of Aklan River, more of the Bakhaw Norte land would be lost and negatively impact the community.

Last January 23, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and members of multi-partite monitoring team conducted offshore site inspection to act on Bakhaw Norte residents’ complaint on ‘premature’ dredging of the vessel.

During the inspection, the vessel has six separate compartments, which can store the dredged material. An estimated 1,200 cubic meters of sand are stored in two compartments of MV Zhong Hai 18. 

Esto said they recommended for the removal of vessel near the mouth of Aklan river until such time the STL has the approval of the ‘as-staked’ or pre-construction survey from DPWH national office.

“Stay away (somewhere else) to avoid tensions and other reactions of the residents in the area,” he added.

The recommendation is also included in their technical report to DENR-Environmental Management Bureau 6.  

In addition, four houses built on Aklan river banks in Bakhaw Norte collapsed alledgely due to dredging operations is attributed to heavy rains and flooding, he stressed. 

No Dredging yet?

Engr. Roger Vergara, consultant of STL, clarified “technically there is no dredging...the vessel is warming up, suction of materials to test the components and parts of suction tubes...there is no hauling or transport of dredged materials.” 

“Na-stuck-up ang suction tubes kaya nag-repair sila during the inspection noong Lunes. Sa proseso ng warming up, the vessel is testing if the suction tubes are working,” he added. 

Sand dredgers use either mechanical scoops or hydraulic suction pumps to lift sand to the surface. This sand is then transported by the barges, and onto larger ships if the sand is due for export.

Vergara said they will proceed in dredging the Aklan River once the new “as-staked” engineering survey which was submitted last January 5 is reviewed and approved by DPWH.

“Iba na ang ruta ng Aklan river, kaya kailangan ng as-staked survey na aprubado ng DPWH bago magsimula ang dredging,” he stressed. 

Also known as site lay-out survey, the survey verifies the actual field condition and staking out the alignment/location of the proposed and existing facilities in Aklan River in relation to approved detailed engineering plan prior to the construction activity. 

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL