Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson convened his newly created inter-agency committee for dredging activities in heavily silted river channels of Negros Occidental today, February 5, to discuss the de-silting of three rivers in EB Magalona town by a private firm.
Lascon created the inter-agency committee through Executive Order No. 21-09 Series of 2021 following the recent flooding in northern Negros Occidental.
There is an imperative need to conduct dredging and de-silting activities to remove excess sediments deposited in the river mouths and coastlines to prevent the loss of lives and property, he said.
Lacson chairs the inter-agency committee with Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional director Francisco Milla Jr. as vice chairman.
Members are regional directors Lea Delfinado of the Department of Public Works and Highways, Raul Laput of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau and Ramar Niel Pascua of the Environment Management Bureau.
The inter-agency committee discussed the dredging of the silted Malogo, Indang and Madalag rivers in EB Magalona proposed to be undertaken by a firm called First Terradev Corp., he said.
The governor said this will not involve black sand mining, it will just be the dredging of silt to prevent flooding.
The firm will conduct the dredging at no cost to the government and will be compensated through the sale of the dredged silt from the rivers, DENR Assistant Regional Director Livino Duran said.
It still has to be determined what share the LGU will get from the sale, he said.
Meanwhile, Lacson said a master plan on the dredging of the Negros Occidental waterways will be presented by the DPWH next month.*