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PARA kay House Deputy Minority Leader at Mamamayang Liberal partylist Rep. Leila de Lima, lubhang nakababahala ang large-scale dredging and extraction activities ng isang Chinese firm sa bayan ng San Felipe sa lalawigan ng Zambales.
Partikular na tinukoy ni de Lima ang operasyon ng China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC), isang Chinese state-run entity na tumatayong subsidiary ng China Communications Construction Company (CCCC).
Sa isang resolusyon, pormal na hinikayat ng mambabatas ang mga Kamara para maglunsad ng imbestigasyon sa aniya’y pinsala sa kalikasan, kabuhayan at kaligtasan ng mga komunidad at mamamayan bunsod ng naturang operasyon.
“The involvement of the China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC) in the alleged dredging and sand extraction activities underscores the urgent need for Congressional oversight on the participation of foreign contractors in environmentally sensitive projects, amid mounting public concern that such operations may exceed their declared purposes of flood control and river restoration, resulting instead in environmental degradation and social harm,” wika ng ranking lady House minority official.
“The findings of such inquiry should guide the formulation of stronger environmental safeguards, transparency mechanisms, and accountability measures to ensure that all dredging and reclamation activities are conducted in accordance with law, and the constitutional right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology,” dugtong niya.
Sa ilalim ng panukala, binanggit ang panawagan at alegasyon ng Zambales Ecological Network (ZEN), Save Our Shores Zambales, at ng Institute for Area Management, sa sinasabing flood control and river restoration projects sa lugar, base na rin sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order (DAO) No. 2019-13, na ang katotohanan umano ay maituturing na bilang large-scale sand mining at extraction operations, at hindi pampublikong imprastraktura.
Nauna rito, nanawagan si De Lima sa Malacañang na busisiin ang mga kahalintulad na aktibidad sa Zambales at iba pang bahagi ng bansa bunsod na rin ng mga nagiging pagpuna at reklamo ng mga apektadong residente.
“The Chinese firm involved in the reported large-scale dredging and extraction activities in Zambales has already been accused of having a shady track record and of facing labor-related complaints. Hindi ito pwedeng ipagkibit-balikat lang ng pamahalaan. The President must look into the situation in Zambales, as well as in other areas of the country facing similar issues,” dugtong ng mambabatas.
“Wala na dapat mas matimbang pa sa atin kundi ang pangangalaga sa kalikasan, kabuhayan at kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan.” (ROMER R. BUTUYAN)
