LAOAG CITY (PIA) – The large-scale dredging project in Ilocos Norte finally begins at the heavily-silted Padsan River in Barangay Gabu, Laoag City on December 15.

The groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony of the Padsan River Restoration Project Phase I was attended by Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Regional Executive Director Crizaldy Barcelo, City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon, and other local officials. 

The Hesha Prime Sand and Gravel Aggregates Philippines Inc. was given the Operations Permit for the said dredging project.

In his message, the city mayor expresses his excitement for the start of the project, noting that it has undergone long period of securing documentary requirements and public consultations with the affected communities.

“The idea to dredge said river arose from the severe flooding caused by Typhoon Ineng’s heavy rainfull in 2019. They city had never been prone to extreme flooding until 2019, when Typhoon Ineng devastated the province, leaving more than a billion pesos’ worth of agricultural and infrastructure damages insofar as the province had been declared under a state of calamity,” said Keon.

The Padsan River is the largest river in Ilocos Norte with a length of 73.10 kilometers and a drainage basin of 1,320 square kilometers. The dredging project does not only provide opportunities for the communities through sand extraction, but ultimately reduce siltation which reduces the flood-carrying capacity of the said river.

During the Phase I, “the materials removed will be loaded to service boat thru sand-bagging and will be transported and disposed properly to barangay spoil disposal sites located in Barangays Casili, Pila, Navotas, Zamboanga, and Salet-Bulangon in Laoag City,” said DENR in its Panoramatic Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA).

Being the main proponent of the dredging project, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc assures that the whole implementation of the dreding activities is responsibly done.

“We as the main proponent, we will supervise and lead the dredging operation. Our responsibility in this dredging project is to make sure it is responsibly done. Kailangan natin ang teamwork ng iba’t ibang local government units,” said Manotoc.

The Phase I of the dredging operations will last for three years. (JCR/MJTAB PIA Ilocos Norte)