Zambales town calls for end of sand dredging as local tourism suffers

GMA Network

10-08-2025

The town of San Felipe in Zambales is best known for its scenic beach and agoho trees. But recently, the local tourism industry has been affected by sand dredging, the digging of boats of sand underneath the ocean and rivers to be used for other purposes. Due to this, the resorts and cottages have been sinking under the waters.
According to a report on "Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho" on Sunday, it was in 2019 when the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) handed out permits to operators to start dredging activities in three main rivers in Zambales: Bucao River in Botolan, Maloma River and the Santo Tomas River in San Felipe. Administrative Order No. 13 Series of 2019 aims to protect the rivers and prevent flooding in the areas.
A representative said the river is heavily silted and if the sand has a good disposition, it would go back to the natural state and allow water to properly flow in the river.
In 2021, dredging activities began in Botolan. In 2024, similar activities started in San Felipe.
The residents have since noticed negative effects in their province. Jessica Soho and her team traveled to San Felipe to investigate the residents' complaints. There, they discovered fallen agoho trees, and abandoned houses and buildings.
Among those damaged by the sand dredging in the Sto. Tomas River includes the resort owned by entrepreneur Eli.
"Sa ngayon, Ma'am, napaka-worst talaga ang nangyayari. Halos 'yan sira-sira lahat. Hindi na kami makapagtanggap ng guest dahil dyan," Eli said.
["What's happening right now is really the worst. Everything is practically falling apart. We can't accommodate any more guests because of it."]
Eli shared that the dredging would occur in front of their resort, starting from the early morning, and lasting all day. Eli added that it is normal for flooding to happen in their town but that it does not usually last.
The Zambales Ecological Network seconded this, adding that the floods only happened because of the dredging.
"Ang Zambales ay never napunta sa listahan ng mga calamity areas as a result of flood. Never. Because meron nga kaming drainage area na pagkalaki-laki, na West Philippine Sea. So lahat ng ilog namin papunta dito, mga streams, lahat ng tubig, papunta dito sa dagat," a representative said.
["Zambales has never been listed as a calamity area due to floods—never. We have a huge drainage outlet: the West Philippine Sea. All our rivers and streams flow directly into the sea."]
"Dito sa kabilang ibayo na, sa kabila ng dagat, ng ilog, ng Santo Tomas River, nababaha kami because meron kaming ilog du'n na drainage din, dinike din nang pagkataas-taas. Eh dati paganyan-ganyan lang ang tubog doon, tapos mag-drain towards the West Philippine Sea. So now, nata-trap 'yung tubig," they added.
["Here on our side, across the sea and the Santo Tomas River, we're experiencing floods because a river that used to serve as a drainage outlet now has a very high dike. Before, the water stayed at a manageable level and flowed out to the West Philippine Sea. Now, it's getting trapped."]
The DENR, however, said that dredging is not the cause of flooding. Rather, it is the result of accretion, or the addition of land or rocks into a landmass. In Zambales specifically, it is a result of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991.
A provincial engineer in Zambales said that structures should not have been built in certain areas because of the accretion.
He added that there are a lot of fake documents going around. Business owners claim to have permits, which is why the governor started the Foreshore Management Council in the province to manage this.
Eli, meanwhile, said that if the area is hazardous, then the authorities should not have promoted tourism there. He also said that authorities have been looking for the legalities of their properties even though they have the permits.
"Kami, nag-invest kami, bumili kami in good faith. Hindi po kami tumayo lang dito na nang-agaw kami ng lupa na sinasabi ng gobyerno na sa kanila. Binili po namin 'yun, may proof kami ng mga documents na binili namin. Hindi kami basta lang tumayo rito."
["We invested and bought the land in good faith. We didn't just stand here and grab property the government claims as theirs. We bought it, and we have documents to prove that we bought it. We didn't just stand here."]
To add to his problems, Eli said they are now in debt.
"'Yung mga tao namin dito lokal lang dito ng San Felipe at Narciso, sila umaasa lang din ang pamilya nila dito sa amin. 'Yung kita namin kung kumikita kami kumikita sila, pagkatapos nito wala na, wala na silang trabaho, kasi kami ang nagbibigay trabaho dito sa lokal."
["Our staff here are just locals from San Felipe and Narciso. Their families depend on us— when we earn, they earn. But after this, it's over. They'll lose their jobs because we're the ones providing work for the locals here."]
Fisherfolk's plight
In Barangay Sindol, the dredging operations affect fisherfolk like Myra and April.
Myra said that they have lived in Sitio Tekte for 28 years, and that they've made a living through catching and selling fish.
But because of the continued dredging, the coastal road got damaged, and so did their livelihood.
"Pati mga bangka hindi namin maibaba dahil malalaki 'yung mga bato na nakaharang sa kalsada," Myra said. "Napasukan na ng tubig 'yung bahay namin dahil sa sobrang lakas ng alon. Pero noon, hindi naman nangyayari 'yan. Ilang taon na kami nandito. Bumabagyo pero hindi naman umaangat yung mga alon dito sa amin."
["We can't even use our boats because large rocks are blocking the road. Our house was flooded by extremely strong waves—something that never used to happen. We've been here for years. Typhoons would come, but the waves never reached us."]
"Pero magmula nga nu'ng nakuha 'yung mga buhangin sa harap namin, siyempre gagamutin niya 'yung sarili niya, kukunin niya 'yung mga buhangin na nawala sa kanya. Kinukuha na niya dito sa taas," she added.
["But ever since the sand in front of us was taken, the sea has been trying to heal itself. It's taking back the sand that was lost—and now, it's taking it from here."]
Dredging in their area stopped last year, but the effects on their livelihood are still felt today. Myra struggles to return to fishing, while April already lost her income. April works as a caretaker for a resort, while her husband works at maintenance.
April said she lost jobs because the owner sold the resort due to fear of dredging. They also lost customers because instead of having a peaceful stay, they get disturbed by the loud dredging noises.
The provincial engineer however said that the seabed dredging is only an allegation.
"'Yan pong sabi nila na part ng shoreline ang ating dine-dredge, pagka po nakita ninyo 'yung ating shoreline, it's about one kilometer na po ang naging lapad at 'yan po ang unclassified public land ang tawag po diyan. Mahaba po 'yan at napakaluwag na lugar ang puro accretion na 'yan," he said.
["Regarding their claim that we're dredging part of the shoreline, if you look at it now, our shoreline is about one kilometer wide. That's what's called unclassified public land. It's a long, very wide stretch, and all of it is accretion."]
He added, "Makikita mo talaga 'yung buhangin na umiikot. Hindi mo alam kung black sand ba 'yung kinukuha o buhangin lang talaga kasi umiikot siya, e. May nilalabas din siyang mga tubig, kasamang mga buhangin."
["You can really see the sand swirling around. You can't even tell if they're collecting black sand or just regular sand because it's all mixed up. The water they released is also mixed with sand."]
The townspeople also raised concern on foreigners allegedly being behind the dredging, therefore benefiting from the operations.
"Ang mga may-ari is mga Intsik. Hindi maintindihan 'yung mga letters na kuwan dahil Intsik ang pagkakagawa ng mga kuwan nila, pangalan," Myra said, and added that they see Chinese people every Friday and Saturday.
["The owners are Chinese, and you can't read their names because they're written in Chinese characters."]
Heidi Fernandez from Zambales Ecological Network, likewise claimed that "these dredging ships are being operated by the China Harbor Engineering Corporation," a Chinese company in Mainland China.
"There were lot of stories ng mga nakasakay ng barko na Pilipino na sabi nila nagdadala sila ng buhangin doon sa mga disputed islands natin. Pero 'yun pa lang ang alam namin. Wala pa kaming nakikitang on paper na ebidensiya," she said.
["Many Filipino crew members on the ships have shared stories claiming they were transporting sand to our disputed islands. But so far, that's all we know—we haven't seen any documented proof yet."]
"KMJS" investigated the China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC). According to their page, they are a major international engineering contractor whose main service is dredging, and creating marine infrastructure projects and reclamation services.
The engineer said that they did not give any Chinese company a permit, and that only legitimate Filipinos do dredging.
"'Yun pong sinasabi nila ng mga vessel na Chinese, 'yung po ay converted into a Philippine vessel. Nanggaling po sa China, 'yun siguro 'yung mga equipment but pagdating po dito, ginagawang yung lahat ng crew ay Pilipino," he said.
["Regarding their claim about the Chinese vessels—yes, they came from China and were converted into Philippine vessels. All the crew are Filipinos."]
However, San Felipe Mayor Reinhard Jeresano earlier confirmed that CHEC did dredging in their area. The sand they get are allegedly used for reclamation projects in Manila Bay.
The townsfolk, however, remain firm in their stance.
April said, "Stop dredging. Hindi lang po buong beach front ang masisira kundi buong community. Wala na po kaming matitirhan."
["Stop the dredging. If this continues, it won't just destroy the entire beachfront—it will wipe out our whole community. We'll have nowhere to live."]
Myra added, "Sana itigil na ang dredging para maging maayos na ang pamumuhay namin saka hindi na kami malulusaw. Kung puwede na lang sana ibalik ninyo ang buhangin na kinuha ninyo!"
["I just hope the dredging stops so our lives can return to normal and we won't be erased. If only you could give back the sand you took!"] —JCB, GMA Integrated News