Coastal erosion accelerates in Zambales as dredging operations resume

SAN FELIPE, ZAMBALES—Coastal families in this town are watching their ancestral lands disappear into the sea, with residents blaming intensified dredging operations for the accelerated erosion. Myra Falloran, 52, said the family home in Sitio Tektek, Barangay Sindol, which she had hoped to pass down to her grandchildren, now faces an uncertain future as the shoreline retreats. "The sea began moving inland after dredging started in 2022," she said. Though the operations were suspended at one point, work resumed in October 2023, intensifying concerns among local communities.

The dredging activities have prompted alarm among residents who depend on coastal resources for their survival. Many families have documented visible changes in the landscape, with the waterline gradually consuming sections of land that have been occupied for generations. Environmental advocates have raised questions about the environmental impact assessments and permits governing the dredging operations in the area.

Local government units and environmental officials have yet to issue comprehensive statements addressing residents' concerns about the project's cumulative effects on coastal stability. The situation underscores ongoing tensions between development activities and community preservation efforts in coastal Zambales, where maritime livelihoods and land ownership remain critical issues for thousands of families.