Bauang River Dredging Plan Sparks Concern Among Residents and Environmental Groups

In Bauang, La Union, a planned "dredging" of the Balili River has drawn opposition from environmental groups, who are questioning its necessity and potential ecological impact. Town officials, however, maintain that the initiative is crucial for flood mitigation. Municipal Administrator Ronald Lee stated that the Balili River, which traverses the town, is heavily silted and frequently overflows during the rainy season, causing widespread flooding. He confirmed that the Sanguniang Bayan (municipal council) has issued a "no objection resolution" for the project. Lee clarified that the initiative would focus on "desilting" rather than extensive dredging, with river reinforcement being a multi-agency and provincial government undertaking. However, the environmental group Koalisyon Isalbar ti Pintas ti La Union (KIPLU), Inc. expressed "deep dismay" over the council's resolution. KIPLU criticized the resolution for "a lack of discernment, inadequate safeguards, and a troubling disregard for genuine public consultation." The group argues that the resolution authorizes dredging without requiring a comparative assessment of nature-based solutions, such as riparian restoration, reforestation, constructed wetlands, mangrove rehabilitation, and upstream sediment control measures. The Balili River, also known as the Naguilian River, originates in Baguio City and flows through La Trinidad and Sablan in Benguet before entering La Union and draining into the West Philippine Sea through Bauang. Its total length is approximately 62.7 kilometers. Lee explained his initial reservations about the project but cited scientific studies indicating the river's severe siltation and the need for desilting to ensure free water flow to the sea. He recalled that the river was once deep enough to dive from bridges, but it has since become shallow, with a scarcity of fish and only shellfish remaining. KIPLU further raised concerns about the project's "vague environmental safeguards," stating that the phrase "stringent measures" is insufficient without specific Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, turbidity and biodiversity monitoring, seasonal work windows, and a clear plan for the disposal or reuse of dredged materials. Bauang officials plan to use the dredged materials for land reclamation in Barangay Pilar, an area continuously shrinking due to coastal erosion. KIPLU, however, is calling for an immediate suspension of any dredging permits or contracts until a transparent, independent comparative assessment of dredging versus nature-based solutions is completed and publicly released. The Bauang local government has not yet disclosed the project's commencement date.