House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima has urged the House of Representatives to investigate the Chinese-led dredging and sand extraction activities in San Felipe, Zambales, citing possible violations of environmental and national security laws.
“We need to probe the legality of these dredging and extraction activities, identify those involved, assess the damage to the environment and the livelihoods of affected residents and communities, and evaluate the threats they pose to our national security,” de Lima said.
Through House Resolution No. 424, de Lima called for congressional oversight on the role of foreign contractors in environmentally sensitive projects. She expressed alarm that the ongoing operations might have gone beyond their stated purposes of flood control and river restoration.
“If the large-scale dredging operations are left unchecked, we would be neglecting the welfare and concerns of our countrymen,” she warned.
Her resolution also seeks to determine whether foreign firms, including China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (CHEC)—which is on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s entity list—are following Philippine environmental, labor, and maritime regulations.
“Base sa impormasyon, ilang araw na raw ang mga barkong ‘yan doon. What are these ships? What are they doing there? Are our authorities checking this out?” she asked.
De Lima also urged President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to “take this matter seriously and act with urgency,” saying the government must be “more assertive and proactive—not merely reactionary.”
“Kumilos na agad tayo bago pa mahuli ang lahat,” she added.