Aklan SP Approves STL Panay Aklan River Dredging Project

Aklan SP Approves STLPanay Aklan River Dredging Project

by Odon S. Bandiola

Aerial view of the Aklan River

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan has authorized Governor Florencio T. Miraflores to be one of the signatories in a Memorandum Of Agreement for the creation of the Multi-Partite Monitoring Team, Environmental Guarantee Fund and Environmental Monitoring Fund for the dredging project of a Singapore-based STL Panay Resources Incorporated at the Aklan River. 

The authority was embodied in Resolution No. 002, Series of 2015 enacted by the chamber during its 1st Regular Session for 2015 on January 7, 2015.

The formation of the tripartite monitoring team and the setting up of the environmental guarantee fund and environmental monitoring fund signal for the dredging project to start as soon as the dredging permit is granted by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Signatories to the MOA governing the creation of the monitoring team are the project proponent STL Panay Resources Incorporated, Province of Aklan represented by the Governor, Municipalities of Kalibo and Numancia represented by their respective Mayors, DENR-EMB Region VI, DENR-PENRO Aklan, NGO Uswag Development Foundation, Incorporated, DENR-Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region VI and DPWH.

The Aklan River dredging project is already issued an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the Central Office of the DENR. Likewise, DPWH Central Office has already approved the dredging plans submitted by the STL Panay Resources Incorporated and already endorsed to the DPWH Regional office for the issuance of a permit to dredge.

STL Panay Resources Incorporated is expected to dredge about 15 million cubic meters of debris at the Aklan River in a year operation. The original MOA, then signed by the company with former Aklan Governor Carlito S. Marquez, stipulated that STL Panay will dredge a minimum of 15 million cubic meters and pay the Province of Aklan P5.00 per cubic meter.

In the project presentation by the company, it is estimated that about 60 hectares within the Aklan River waters downstream and upstream shall be excavated by the dredging project. Dredging is not allowed within the one kilometer length away from the Kalibo Bridge downstream and upstream. Dredging shall be done by providing 200 meters buffer from the east and west banks of the Aklan River. Excavation will be at a depth of 2 meters to 4 meters depending on the level of siltation in the dredging area. 

In the aftermath of typhoon Frank when the entire Municipality of Kalibo, Numancia and Banga had been flooded as the Aklan River had overflown its banks, the Department of Public Works and Highways Regional Office implemented a P100 million dredging project at the mouth of the Aklan River near the Sibuyan Sea.

However, such DPWH dredging project has never shown positive result and impact in the eyes of all Aklanons and Local government units of Aklan. /MP