2 firms tapped to dredge Cagayan River

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) has accredited two dredging firms to rehabilitate the mineral-rich Cagayan River at no cost to the government.

MGB-Cagayan Valley director Mario Ancheta said the Great River North Consortium (GRNC) and Riverfront Construction Inc. (RCI) were issued certificates of accreditation, authorizing them to undertake the project.

The companies were also authorized to deal, trade or sell minerals and mineral products that they could extract from the river.

“The accreditation is solely for the Cagayan River Restoration Project and will be valid for two years,” Ancheta said.

While the GRNC and RCI will shoulder the full cost of the project including the disposal of the dredged materials, the companies are not allowed to process or dispose of them outside the country.

The firms are required to report to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources any precious materials or objects that they would recover from the river, Ancheta said.