Pinamalayan Mayor Aristeo Baldos Jr. has expressed strong opposition to any dredging operations in his municipality, citing environmental threats and potential damage to the town’s coastline.

His statement was made in the heels of ongoing controversy over large-scale dredging projects across Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro.

The mayor’s stance also comes as dredging operations continue to generate debate across the province, particularly the ongoing project in Barangay Balete in Gloria town, where environmental groups and fisherfolk have voice strong opposition to the massive sand mining operation.

The project involves extracting marine sand from the mouth of Balete River for use in constructing the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan.

“Ako tinutulan ko yan at outright sinabihan ko sila hindi pwede dito sa Pinamalayan ang dredging na yan. Alam na alam ko ang mangyayari,” Baldos said during a recent interview, referring to middlemen who had approached him seeking permission to conduct dredging operations in his municipality.

According to the mayor, Pinamalayan has river mouths that could be targeted for sand extraction, but he has rejected all proposals.

Baldos cited the negative environmental impact of dredging, explaining the natural sand displacement patterns that could affect the municipality’s shoreline.

“May isang buhangin papuntang kaliwa, may isang buhangin papuntang kanan. Walang katapusang buhos ng buhangin yan. Kahit paano kuha mo sa buhangin, tatabunan yan ang butas,” he said, describing how sand naturally moves to fill extraction sites.

“Kaya nangyayari yan ang buhangin sa tabing dagat, sa tabing pampang natin, wala na kasi pupunta na sa butas na pinagkukunan ng buhangin. Yan ang aking idea sa naobserbahan ko sa dagat na pabalik-balik lang ang buhangin,” the mayor explained.

Baldos pointed out that Pinamalayan is the only municipality in the province without dredging applications and operations.

“Kung makikita mo lahat halos ng bayan sa Second District may application ng dredging at may dredging sila doon. Pinamalayan lang ang wala,” he said.

The mayor also revealed uncertainty about potential spillover effects from neighboring dredging operations.

“Kung tanong mo kung maapektuhan tayo sa nangyayari diyan sa Gloria, yan ang hindi ko masagot. Siguro dapat ito ang pag-aralan natin kung talagang makakaapektu sa atin ang nangyayari ngayon sa Balete,” he said.

Economic reasons factor heavily into the mayor’s opposition.

“Ten barangays na umaasa sa ating dagat,” Baldos noted, stressing that approximately 10 barangays in Pinamalayan depend on marine resources for their livelihoods.

“Malaking bagay sa ating bayan pag nasira ang ating dalampasigan dahil diyan lang kumikita ang ating mga tao sa Pinamalayan,” he said, warning of potential economic displacement if coastal areas are damaged.

“Wala tayong mapaglalagyan sa kanila kung ma-displace sila. Dapat tutulan ng ating mamamayan ang dredging sa atin,” the mayor added, calling for community support in opposing dredging operations.

Dredging operations have become increasingly contentious across Oriental Mindoro.

The Koalisyon Sagip Mindoro (Coalition to Save Mindoro) and the Gloria Municipal Fisherfolks Federation have put up a strong opposition to ongoing and planned massive sand mining operations.

Residents of affected barangays, including Balete and San Antonio in Gloria town, have manifested their fears that the project threatens livelihoods, infrastructure, and marine ecosystems, with fisherfolk pointing out risks to coral reefs and seagrass beds.

Meanwhile, Occidental Mindoro Gov. Eduardo B. Gadiano temporarily halted sand-dredging operations in Rizal town in April after a vessel capsized, resulting in the death of nine crew members.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor, for his part, has defended the dredging projects as part of flood mitigation efforts and economic development pursuits.