May 8, 2025
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered a thorough investigation into the dredging and reclamation activities in the Philippine waters, Malacañang announced on Wednesday.
This, after the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) bared that sand from the Philippines’ coastal areas was being used in China’s reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Matapos makatanggap ng impormasyon patungkol dito, inutos po ng Pangulo na magkaroon po ng masinsinang mag-imbestiga patungkol dito. At ngayon po ay ongoing ang investigation (After receiving information about this, the President ordered a thorough investigation into this. And now the investigation is ongoing),” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro told reporters.
“At pagka nagkaroon po ng pinal na pag-iimbestiga o konklusyon patungkol po dito, gagawin po ang agarang pag-uutos. Ito ay naayon doon sa maaaring maging resulta ng imbestigasyon (And when there is a final investigation or conclusion about this, an immediate order will be made. This is in accordance with the possible results of the investigation).”
READ: Makabayan solons urge House to probe Chinese-led dredging in Cagayan
Asked if the government would hold concerned local government units (LGUs) accountable for the quarrying operations in coastal areas, Castro said it would depend on the results of the exhaustive investigation.
“Kaya nga po ito ay iimbestigahan kung meron pong dapat managot. Ito naman din po ang bilin ng Pangulo (That is why this will be investigated if there is someone who should be held accountable. This is also the President’s order),” Castro said. “Kung may dapat panagutin, dapat pong managot (If someone should be held accountable, they should be held accountable).”
According to reports, the NICA is currently investigating various Chinese companies’ reclamation and dredging activities in the Philippine waters, including Manila Bay.
In Cagayan province, massive Chinese-led dredging operations along the Cagayan River have drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups and local fisherfolk, who say the activities have caused severe ecological damage, depleted fish stocks, and brought economic hardship to small-scale fishing communities, particularly in Aparri and neighboring coastal towns.
Meanwhile, on Mindoro Island, dredging has been carried out off the shores of Gloria in Oriental Mindoro, as well as in the towns of Mamburao and Rizal in Occidental Mindoro.
Local officials say that these projects are intended for flood control and desiltation.