Balete River Restoration Sparks Flood Control Debate in Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro faces a critical choice as local officials push for a “cost-free” flood control solution centered on Balete River restoration. However, some residents and groups warn that the dredging could amount to commercial sand mining, raising environmental concerns.
Located 140 kilometers southwest of Manila, Oriental Mindoro covers 436,472 hectares—about 1.5 percent of the Philippines’ total land area and 16 percent of the Mimaropa region. The majority of its land, approximately 357,900 hectares, features wetlands, fertile valleys, and mountains. Coastal and lake areas cover nearly 40,000 hectares.
With 15 towns, most—over 93 percent—are coastal or near the shore. Gloria, one of these towns, has become central in the debate due to the local government’s proposed river restoration to address persistent flooding.
Flood Vulnerability and Economic Stakes
According to assessments by disaster experts, around 84 percent of Oriental Mindoro’s population, or roughly 715,898 people, remain highly vulnerable to flooding. Past studies warn that unchecked floods could cause damage worth over P120 billion.
In response, Governor Humerlito Dolor in 2023 sought provincial council approval for large-scale dredging of Balete River. This project targets six barangays: Balete, San Antonio, Narra, Papandungin, Alma Villa, and Malayong.
The Environmental Management Bureau of the region explained that dredging aims to increase the river’s discharge capacity and reduce silt accumulation at its mouth, where the river meets larger bodies of water. The plan involves simple dredging and removing material repeatedly until the riverbed reaches desired levels.
Officials emphasize this approach as sustainable and cost-effective, noting that despite spending P24 billion on flood control, flooding persists. “It is a sustainable, cost-free solution,” a local leader said.
Controversy: “Cost-Free” or Commercial Sand Mining?
Yet some argue the project is not truly free. Southern Concrete Industries Inc. leads the initiative, projecting extraction of 1.8 million cubic meters of sand from Balete River. The dredged sand is slated for transport to San Miguel Aerocity in Bulacan to supply the New Manila International Airport construction.
The project budget stands at P309.91 million. Despite securing environmental permits, the provincial council revoked its support, issuing a cease-and-desist order against Southern Concrete Industries, China Harbor Engineering, and San Miguel Holdings Corp.
The council warned that dredging under the guise of restoration risks “grave and irreparable injury” to marine ecosystems, agriculture, coastal stability, and tourism.
Environmental experts from global organizations have noted that extracting sand from rivers and coastal zones can cause erosion and aquifer salination. These effects threaten storm surge protection, biodiversity, water supply, fisheries, agriculture, and tourism livelihoods.
Local Concerns and Calls for Inclusive Planning
The concerns voiced in Gloria echo those in Calapan City and Pinamalayan, where local governments have expressed strong opposition to sand dredging and mining. Calapan City’s officials declared that the “irreversible environmental and social harm” from unregulated operations outweighs any short-term economic benefit.
Legal officers and provincial leaders argue that revenues from dredging could benefit local communities, with Barangay Balete potentially earning millions from navigational and river dredging services. Employment opportunities may also arise.
Still, community advocates stress the importance of social acceptance. Evelyn Cacha, chairperson of a local environmental group, said, “Magaling po minsan ang mga project proponent, magpapaliwanag sa matatamis at masasarap na pangako.”
Since 2020, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau has identified dredging zones in nine priority rivers in Oriental Mindoro, including Balete River, aiming to balance development with environmental safeguards.
Local coalitions call for concrete environmental protection plans that involve residents in decision-making. Public consultations continue, such as the June 12 meeting in Balete, where the proposed seven-kilometer restoration project, expected to last six months, was discussed.
For more news and updates on Balete River restoration, visit Filipinokami.com.
