Capitol not to meddle in Malele River issue

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Governor Lilia Pineda stressed on Monday that the Capitol will not meddle in the ongoing issue on the dredging and desilting of the Malele River in Barangay Planas, Porac town.

She said it will be up to the proper authorities like the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board (PMRB), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or even the Court to settle the row between pro-desilting groups from Barangays Planas, Pio and Diaz, and the opposing Nagkakaisang Mamamayan para sa Agrikultura at Kalikasan over fears of environmental degradation and possible reduction of irrigation.

Recently, the PMRB and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Enro) Art Punsalan led an inspection of the Malele River with both groups.

“Capitol and Enro will not meddle in the issue over the Malele River. Ang sa akin lang, basta may violation ay dapat ipatigil ito,” the governor said.

“Kung kailangan magsampa sila ng kanya-kanyang kaso sa korte, ay dapat gawin nila upang maresolba na ang ganyang problema. Mas maganda kung sa tamang ahensiya sila lalapit tungkol ditto,” Pineda added.