Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano has temporarily suspended dredging operations in Mamburao due to complaints from residents of Barangay Talabaan, which covers the affected area.

The dredging operations at Pagbahan River are part of the provincial government’s river restoration program aimed at preventing flooding in Occidental Mindoro.

Gadiano enforced the suspension of the dredging operations this Monday on PERRC Construction and Development Corporation following a complaint filed by resident Zenaida Esparas through Malacañang’s Citizens Complaint Hotline 8888.

Among the residents’ complaints are the threat of environmental damage, particularly as the ships were allegedly no longer collecting sand from the river mouth but directly from the sea.

Residents also complained about the intense noise caused by the dredging operations of the ships.

On Tuesday, Gadiano personally inspected the Pagbahan River in Barangay Talabaan, Mamburao, along with several other government officials, including representatives from DENR-MGB MIMAROPA, EMB-MIMAROPA, DPWH MIMAROPA, PNP, PCG, representatives of PERRC Construction and Development Corporation, and the complaining residents led by Esparas.

In the meeting led by Gadiano following the inspection, they discussed the presence of ships outside the designated dredging zone, the lack of public consultation before the activity began, and the noise complaints.

A representative of the dredging company admitted to lapses, particularly in the movement of their vessels beyond the designated dredging area due to operational limitations.

According to the company representative, this was done to protect coral reefs that could be damaged if they limited their operations strictly to the designated dredging zones.

However, the Inter-Agency Committee stated that what PERRC did was improper, as it was not included in the dredging master plan and is not allowed under existing regulations.

Because of this, Gadiano decided to suspend the dredging operations in the Pagbahan River at Barangay Talabaan while the documents related to the dredging activities are being reviewed and necessary amendments to the dredging plan are made.

Efforts will also be made to strengthen communication with affected communities to explain the necessity of dredging the rivers.

Gadiano emphasized the importance of listening to the people and ensuring that every step of the project considers the environment and the livelihood of residents.

The governor also warned other companies conducting dredging in Occidental Mindoro’s rivers to strictly follow the dredging master plan to avoid unforeseen incidents.

On April 21, 2025, the provincial government of Occidental Mindoro issued a cease and desist order to Bluemax Tradelink, Inc., a company conducting dredging operations at the Lumintao River in the town of Rizal, after a dredging vessel capsized, resulting in the deaths of 10 crew members, including both Filipino and Chinese nationals.

The DENR-MGB MIMAROPA and DILG MIMAROPA had called on Governor Gadiano last month  to act on the complaints, as he also serves as chairperson of the Inter-Agency Committee overseeing the dredging operations.