Group urges rehab of Hinigaran River

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

A CONCERNED sector aired the need to rehabilitate the Hinigaran River amid threats not only to the seafood industry but to life and property that may be destroyed by flash floods if the river overflows.

Mary Ann Colmenares, convenor of the Save Hinigaran Environmental Resources Initiatives for the Future (Sheriff), said if the over congestion of the Hinigaran River is not addressed, people who make their living out of the river will end up empty.

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The river has over exceeded its carrying capacity, she said.

Colmenares, together with local officials, Tourism Provincial consultant Nancy Pestano and Val Camara of the Philippine Kayaking Association and other concerned citizens, conducted an ocular inspection of the 7 to 8-kilometer long, 100-hectare wide Hinigaran River on Tuesday.

“With the way it is now, a strong rain, a deluge may turn it into something like Iligan. Flood waters will overflow the river and flood the town,” Colmenares warned. “This is something we want to avoid.”

During the ocular inspection of the river, Camara who has been all over the country assessing numerous waterways, noted that the Hinigaran River has a very small outlet, which is congested with illegal structures.

He described the situation as “scary”.

He also noted that, while there are mangroves, these are not enough for the biodiversity of the area.

“The river is in a declining state. There are signs of stagnation,” Camara said. (Teresa Ellera)