Photo courtesy of the provincial government of Ilocos Norte
LAOAG CITY- Residents near the Bislak River in Ilocos Norte received livelihood assistance tied to ongoing dredging operations covering parts of Vintar and Bacarra, authorities said.
The provincial government reported that PHP5.06 million in extraction fees was released this year under the revenue-sharing arrangement linked to the river dredging project.
Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos said the province received its share in accordance with the local revenue code, with funds allocated for community and development-related programs.
Based on the distribution, 40 percent or about PHP2.02 million went to barangays in Bacarra and Vintar, while the remaining shares were allocated to the provincial government and the two municipalities.
Officials said the barangay share was distributed among 30 villages in the project area, with each receiving a corresponding allocation.
The province retained 30 percent of the fees, amounting to about PHP1.5 million, while another 30 percent was shared by Bacarra and Vintar.
The dredging operations are part of a long-term river rehabilitation project covering about 26 kilometers and implemented under a permit issued in 2023.
Authorities said the program follows national environmental guidelines allowing qualified private contractors to undertake dredging work, subject to taxes and regulatory requirements on recovered materials.
They added that the project is intended both for river rehabilitation and flood mitigation in surrounding low-lying communities, alongside the revenue-sharing arrangement with host areas.