Rizal residents alarmed over filling of Mango river with land

The residents of a barangay in the town of Rodriguez, Rizal province on Wednesday expressed alarm as a river in the area became the dumping site of land filling.

According to Izzy Lee’s report on “Stand for Truth,” a truck was caught on video pouring land into the Mango River in Barangay Manggahan.

“’Yung unang pag-tambak po nila kasi a month ago na. Kasi nga po dito, dito ako nakatira sa village na binabantaya ko. Kaya kapag umaga po, bilang guard, nag co-conduct po ako ng routine, monitor ko po lahat,” said Romeo, a witness.

“August 28, nag-pulukan na po sila. Full blast sila na nag-tatambak na,” he added.

The Municipality of Rodriguez said that prior to the filling, the river had a width of 15 meters. However, it decreased by half after the operations that covered 7.5 meters.

Due to this, residents became worried that this may cause flooding in the area as the river grew narrow.

“Nangangamba po kasi ako, syempre pag-alam mo naman ngayon nasa buwan tayo ng pag-ulan. Syempre kapag umulan po kasi, magkakaroon ng pag sisikip ng daluyan ng tubig doon sa tinambakan nila, maiipon po ‘yung tubig, mag-babaha po kami dito sa amin,” he said.

Barangay Manggahan Secretary Rommel Cruz said that they were unaware of what was happening.

“Ngayon ko lang din po siya nakita talaga, kaya kahit hindi po namin alam talaga. Nakita ko po natambakan na, eh. Hindi po maganda ‘yung ginawa,” Cruz said.

“Pinapahanap ko po ‘yung business permit atsaka ‘yung contract of lease at municipal business permit po,” he added.

Meanwhile, Mylene Jamero, the one responsible for the operation, explained that she owned the land since 2013.

She said her lot covered 7,000 square meters. However, the strong current of the river ate a large portion of her land and decreased it to 4,000 square meters.

“Pinatambakan ko po kasi ‘yung area po talaga namin ‘yung land kinalkal po ng tubig. Ibinalik lang po namin. ‘Yung hangganan po ng lupa, tatawid pa po pero hindi ko na po kukunin,” Jamero said. -- Joahna Lei Casilao/BAP, GMA News