Zambales prioritizes dredging project to stimulate economy

IBA, Zambales—as Zambales transitions to general community quarantine (GCQ ) beginning June 1, Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. said the provincial government has prioritized a dredging project that would earn hard cash while providing a solution to the perennial problem of flooding in communities near major river systems.

Ebdane said in an online briefing the provincial government must embark on several projects to stimulate the local economy, provide jobs and food security, as well as generate income to the government.

Projects under the economic recovery program include agri-fishery recovery and assistance programs targeting farmers and fishermen, as well as micro and small enterprises. The dredging project is designed to quickly shore up local revenue, he said.

“We now have to establish programs to generate income for the thousands of displaced workers, including returning OFWS [overseas Filipino workers],” Ebdane said.

“The transition to GCQ was made because of the need for the industries to move, for the economy to recover,” he explained. “It doesn’t mean that there is no more virus around but, simply that the government doesn’t have much money anymore.”

The governor stressed that the provincial government must now rely more on its own resources to boost its finances; which he expects would come from the dredging project.

He said the river dredging project has already been approved by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources late last year. The approval has led to the issuance by DENR of Department Administrative Order 13 (DAO 13) and the screening for qualified operators early this year.

DAO 13 called for the immediate dredging and restoration of the

natural state and water flow in the Bucao, Maloma, and Santo Tomasnaculcol rivers, which had become the channels for billions of cubic meter of Mount Pinatubo pyroclastic deposits on their way to the sea, Ebdane said.

“Every year, the river beds rise by 1 meter. And periodically, the province and the DPWH had to raise the height of the dikes that border these rivers to protect the outlying barangays,” Ebdane noted, adding that the national and local governments spend so much to dredge the rivers and their delta.

“This time, however, it is the government that will be earning from the project,” Ebdane pointed out.

Accordingly, the dredging operators will collect the lahar sand that accumulated at the mouth of the three rivers, thus clearing the delta for a more efficient draining of river water into the sea. The collected materials will be shipped out to buyers outside the country.

Ebdane said that income from the dredging project will go to the national government, as well as the provincial coffers and host towns and barangays. An agreement between provincial and municipal officials would also give shares other towns and barangays not affected by the

project, he added.

In the same briefing, the Provincial Agriculture Office outlined programs geared towards revenue generation in the agriculture and fishery sectors. These included backyard food production program, rice resiliency project, food accessibility and affordability measures, and cash assistance and aid for marginalized farmers and fishermen.

Ebdane said the provincial government’s agro-fishery initiatives ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for Zambaleños during the continuing quarantine period. However, he acknowledged that there is still a pressing need to establish employment programs for displaced workers like tricycle drivers and returning OFWS.

In last Saturday’s briefing, the Zambales Provincial Health Office reported that as of May 30, the province has recorded a total of 24 confirmed Covid-19 cases, with 20 recoveries, one fatality and three active cases.

Ebdane urged his constituents to continue stringent health measures like home quarantine, wearing of mask, sanitizing and disinfecting and social distancing.

The governor said Zambales will continue to enforce border controls and curfew from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.

ZAMBALES Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is shown in this photo discussing the program to stimulate economic activities, generate jobs and revenue, and ensure food security in the province under the general community quarantine.