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Cagayan quarrying operations threaten RP’s most costly fish

TUGUEGARAO CITY – The rampant quarry operations along the mouth of the Cagayan river in this country’s northernmost Cagayan province threaten the existence of several fish species, including one of the country’s most expensive fish.

The government’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources expressed fear that if the quarry activities continue unabated, this might spell the doom of the already critically endangered ludong, considered to be a rich man’s delicacy, and other species endemic to the area such as the unnok (Delillia sp.) and the cabibi (Batissa violacea) due to the disturbance on their habitat.

BFAR said that the quarry operations might destroy the spawning patterns and migratory route of the ludong, probably one of Asia’s most delectable fish, which at latest spawning run sold for at P3,500 to P5,000 per kilo.

“Besides this threatening environmental tragedy, the indiscriminate quarry operations along the river, specially near its mouth, also pose risks to agriculture due to possible salt-water intrusion,” said Dr. Jovita Ayson, BFAR director for Cagayan Valley.

The ongoing sand quarrying activities, which has affected the northern coastal towns here, such as Camalaniugan, Lallo and Aparri, have been opposed by Church authorities for quite some time now owing to their negative environmental impact.

The apprehension of the Church and environmentalists here was bolstered by findings from BFAR experts, which show the quarry project affects the habitat of benthic organisms dwelling on the river bottom, like unnok and cabibi.

Further, even if an environmental compliance certificate had been issued for the quarrying activity, their proponents, reportedly financed by foreign nationals such as Chinese and Indonesian groups, have apparently failed to comply with additional requirements for them to engage in quarrying within the Cagayan river here whose silt is sold at a higher price than from inland sand.

Besides the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which issues the ECC, the proponent of the quarrying activity should also have obtained permits from other government agencies like BFAR, Departments of Labor and Employment, Health, and Public Works and Highways, Bureau of Customs, Philippine Ports Authority, and Philippine Coast Guard. -- CL