ABSTRACT

While the river areas have potential in production resource, there is a need for its protection
in order to conserve and sustain the fishery and aquatic resources as well as its biodiversity. In
spite of the potentials offered by the Cagayan river, there are natural recurring environmental
problems that leads to limited development activities occurring in some municipalities
surrounding the Cagayan river (see Figure 1), specifically Camalaniugan which is the subject of
this position paper.
Generally, there are two major factors that contributed to these problems to include the
extensive and prolonged flooding and chipping erosion. Several studies have been conducted that
the occurrence of these problems is due to heavy siltation or sedimentation as well as lack of
institutionalization of disaster management measures and controls.
Further, the provincial government of Cagayan has already planned the implementation of
its river restoration through dredging. Thence, antecedent to the Memorandum of Agreement the
removal of sand bars at the middle of Cagayan river along the stretch of Camalaniugan has
started in order to prevent or mitigate the effects of erosion. While the river restoration has not
yet commenced, LGU Camalaniugan has started implementing mitigating and preventive
projects on flooding and chipping erosion.
INTRODUCTION
Municipality Background
The municipality of Camalaniugan is geographically situated in the midst of 4 municipalities
of northern part of Cagayan province. The rivers and creeks and aquifers originating the
watershed supply the water for irrigation and domestic use of the people.
The municipality of Camalaniugan has been experiencing soil and riverbanks chipping
erosions aside from the river and river deltas siltation. In order to curb and control the degrading
trend of the forests, the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) was formulated.
OBJECTIVES
Like many other activities, dredging produces environmental effects. Recently, the issue of
effects of underwater activity on aquatic life has received broader attention within the scientific
community, with stakeholders and the general public. In this paper we will:
1) Discuss the background of LGU Camalaniugan, including its existing environmental
problems (e.g. flood control, chipping erosion)
2) Discuss the reason for the need of dredging based on LGU Camalaniugan current
environment status, including summary of JICA feasibility study on flood control and relevant
laws.
3) Explain the accounts and statement of LGU Camalaniugan in relation to dredging and their
plans for environmental management.
4) Discuss and identify the proposed projects of LGU Camalaniugan in relation to mitigating
and preventive measures on possible effects of dredging if there are.
5) Discuss the status of the said projects.
6) Provide conclusions and an outline of future areas of research.
DISCUSSION
A. Existing Environmental Problems based on Climate and Disaster Risk Assessment (CDRA)
Geological Hazards
Liquefaction will be the most fearful geological hazard to occur during ground shaking
within the municipality considering the geological hazard map being provided by the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST). About 90 percent of the municipal land area will be
subjected to liquefaction and 5 percent is moderately susceptible to said geo hazard. Likewise,
chipping erosion due to strong wave pressures along riverbanks of Cagayan River damaging
settlements and croplands. (See Figure 1)
Hydromet Hazards
Strong winds being experienced during typhoon and super typhoon occurrence causing
damages to crops, residential houses and other buildings; aanent to it is the occurrence of flash
flood brought about by continues and or torrential rain wherein most of the low lying area of the
municipality is flooded which will impel the enforcement of force evacuation to affected
population and other vulnerable sectors in the municipality; 12 barangays affected by flood
water. (See figure 2)
B. The Need for Dredging
The provincial government of Cagayan had commissioned marine geologist from the
University of the Philippines-Diliman to conduct a bathymetric study in the lower Cagayan
River, which the study resulted to recommendation on dredging the silted parts of the river. The
study showed that the Cagayan River was already heavily silted due to erosion and found out
constriction of channel due to sand bar growth which causes severe flooding during rainy
seasons. The geomorphic study also led to the conclusion that dredging will lessen flooding
problem and reduce river bank erosion.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Administrative Order (DAO) No.
2020-07 rationalizes the dredging activities in heavily-silted river channels pursuant to DENR-
DPWH-DILG-DOTR Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2019. This project is intended
for the protection and proper management of the disposition of sand and restoration of natural
state of the river.
Furthermore, according to Nationwide Flood Control Plan and River Dredging Program and
study conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency and proposed that dredging could
be the most possible solution to solve the problem on perennial floods and bank erosion in many
municipalities including Camalaniugan. Dredging is a flood control structural intervention
wherein the channel of a river is widened or deepened so as to confine flood flows within the
reconstructed river.
C. LGU Camalaniugan Accounts and Statements on Dredging
The LGU Camalaniugan after the two public hearings conducted from the past municipal
mayor to the newly elected mayor has agreed on the said dredging activity. Both had expressed
their agreement towards responsible dredging, and objurgate any illegal operation. The LGU
officials are confident that there is the DENR which shall directly monitor and supervise said
project.
On the other hand, investors from Taiwan conducted core boring analysis on Cagayan River
25 meters deep in order to see amount of waste since sand bar is also considered as waste. A
private contractor, the Fugaca Company discussed their intentions and plans on the removal of
sand bar at delta, he also emphasized that removing through dredging will help the municipality
to make the river deeper to prevent floods and will also offer job opportunities to residents.
Questions were also raised including anti-mining advocates stated that dredging
reduces flood risk in one location allows water to move downstream faster, which can
increase flood risk elsewhere. The LGU officials explained that there are no on-going projects to
mitigate and prevent effects of dredging.
The LGU officials also emphasized that since the river restoration has not yet started the
planned projects under the forest land use are not measures for the commencement of dredging,
these are more on environmental management on floods and riverbank chipping erosion which
the municipality has been experiencing; and as source of livelihood of constituents. The projects
include bamboo plantation, nipa and bukawan plantation, national greening program and
mangrove plantation.
D. LGU Mitigating and Preventive Measures on Flood and Erosion
Since the river restoration through dredging has not yet commenced, LGU Camalaniugan
issued Executive Order No. 48 Series 2019 which creates a technical group which shall
implement and oversee the Forest land use projects for year 2020-2029 which include bamboo
plantation, nipa and bukawan plantation, national greening program and mangrove plantation.
This Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) of the municipality of Camalaniugan is a ten-year
management plan to effectuate the conservation, protection and development of the forest and
forestlands (FFL) resources within its area of responsibility.
1. Bamboo, Nipa and Bakawan Planting
Approximately 78.36272 hectares of the municipal open access forest lands were considered for
bamboo plantation in areas along the rivers and creeks. Bamboo, nipa and bakawan helps curb
floods, erosion which its wide network of roots holds and bind the soils firmly and provides
livelihood to locals. Aside from bamboo plantation, areas along the rivers and creeks shall be
panted with nipa and bakawan. These two are known to be beneficial in protecting from chipping
erosion which is noticeably occurring in the area. (See Figure 3)
2. Mangrove Plantation
Many marine communities are surrounded by mangrove forest. By filtering out sediments, the
mangrove forest also protects aquatic life both the saltwater and the freshwater ecosystems they
straddle. The mangroves’ complex root systems filter nitrates and phosphates that rivers and
streams carry to the sea. They also keep seawater from encroaching on inland waterways.
E. Status of the Project
At present, the municipality of Camalaniugan has been experiencing soil and riverbanks
chipping erosion aside from the river and river deltas siltation. In order to curb and control the
degrading trend of the forests, the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP) was formulated.
The project commenced last September 2020 which is a nine-year project. The LGU has
started planting 200 hundred bamboo propagates which came from DENR, then DTI will later
come in for the processing of the production of bamboo shoots through their One Barangay One
Product. Other projects such as Mangrove plantation will start later December of this year or
early 2021.
CONCLUSION
The studies conducted emphasized and supported dredging which has significant ecological
and environmental adverse effects. Thus, LGU Camalaniugan also recommended that dredging
should be done responsibly and carefully, they also pointed out the importance of planting
bamboo, nipa and other species to curb chipping erosion and flooding. The development of
mangrove areas along the dredged areas of Cagayan River to secure the biological species
thriving in the river is also included in the Forest Land Use Project. Notwithstanding the possible
negative impact of dredging in the environment, LGU Camalaniugan has committed its
continuous service for the protection of the environment and the people.
Towards this end, studies should also be conducted on effects of the River Restoration
Project to the people of Camalaniugan, determine if dredging has possible negative effects and
other elated studies which will help formulate measures to mitigate and prevent effects.

REFERENCES
Online Resources
⚫ Environmental Impact Assessment, 2001, Japan International Cooperation Agency
⚫ Philippines: Marine Geologist Recommends Dredging of Cagayan River, January 2012,
University of the Philippines
News Articles
⚫ Inter-Agency Committee on Cagayan River Restoration Congregates, August 2020, DENR,
Mines and Sciences Bureau
⚫ River restoration to boost Region 2 economy, July 2020, The Manila Times
⚫ Forest Land Use Plan of LGU Camalanuigan, Edimar Patino Cabaya
⚫ Construction of River Control at Sapping Camalanuigan Cagayan and Public Consultative
 Hearing Regarding on the Proposed Quarrying of Sand Bar at Delta, January 2020, Edimar
R. Aquino Jr.
RELATED DATA AND GRAPHS

Figure 1: Figure 2:
Water bodies covering Camalanuigan Camalaniugan Erosion Susceptibility

Figure 3: Figure 4:
Camalaniugan Flood Susceptibility Areas to be covered for Bamboo Plantation