Residents of barangays Datag and Caticugan in Siaton, Negros Oriental, are opposing the re-channeling project of Siaton River, and blamed quarrying operation for its damage.

Residents suggested that the government should build a concrete dike to ensure the safety of the residents in the town during a barangay assembly attended by around 100 residents of Barangay Poblacion 4, Datag ang Caticugan in Sitio Pilapil of Barangay Caticugan in Siaton.

Representatives from the National Irrigation Administration, Environment and Natural Resources Division and Sanguniang Bayan Member Alfe Salome Lagos were at the assembly.

The ENRD team headed by Ruperto Badon was conducting a survey of the proposed rechanneling and dredging project of Siaton River, but the residents asked them to stop, saying they were not consulted on the project.

Ricardo Radoc, president of the Caticugan Farmers Association, Incorporated said residents should be consulted because of their bad experiences with the rechanneling project before.

They also fear that because of the rechanneling and dredging project, the NIA dam located over 1.3 kilometers away might be affected. Radoc said the Irrigation Dam is currently used to irrigate around 81 hectares of rice field in Barangay Caticugan alone.

Another resident of Barangay Caticugan, Regina Panoy, said that during the previous floodings, majority of the agricultural areas were damaged by Siaton river. It even damaged some portion of the access road going to Barangay Caticugan which also connects to Lake Balanan, she claimed.

She also alleged that the quarrying operation in the river has caused the too much destruction of the agricultural areas and flooding of the Poblacion barangays.

Nestor Pastor of NIA suggested that their office conduct a topographical survey to be the basis for the proposed rechanneling and dredging project.

Gov.  Emilio Macias, II, representatives from ENRD, provincial legal officer Erwin Vergara, stakeholders and Siaton local government were scheduled to hold a conference to address the problem.*JG

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