The Provincial Government of Cagayan is open to investors interested to dredge the heavily silted Cagayan River, according to the provincial administrator, Mr Joseph Llopis.
Llopis reiterated the observation of Agriculture Secretary, Emmanuel Piñol, during the aerial assessment to determine the extent of Lawin’s damages in the region, that the Cagayan River needs dredging as it is already silted.
He said that the provincial government’s recommendation for the need to dredge the silted parts of the country’s longest river was backed by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.
Llopis added that dredging could be the most possible solution to solve the problem on perennial floods and bank erosion in many communities along or near the Cagayan River.
“A newly-created committee will study the dredging activities to ensure the protection of the aquatic resources and to safeguard the people’s livelihood, especially those depending on the resources of the Cagayan river,” Llopis said.
He also added that, should the provincial government and the involved investors have sealed its agreement, the committee will monitor the dredging activities as there is a huge reserve of black sand in the whole stretch of lower Cagayan River.
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