SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has started the desilting of Malandog River located in this province.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) officer Andres Undal underscored the necessity to remove the silt materials which block the natural flow of water from the downstream to estuarine area of the river.
Likewise, the desilting will be of great help in the improvement of discharge flow capacity and enhancement of river ecosystems.
Desilting is one of the activities under the implementation of the Malandog River Rehabilitation and Development Program.
Malandog River can be rightly called one of the country’s ancient ports. According to tradition, strangers from Borneo landed their sails there and the natives called Ati welcomed them, resulting to what is now known as the “Barter of Panay” and sealed the pact between the Malay chieftains and the Ati tribe of Antique (formerly called Hantik) province.
The Atis were said to have retreated to the mountains while the new settlers lived in the lowlands and from there made settlements in various parts of Panay Island.
Thus, Malandog River became, in essence, the cradle of Panay civilization. This historical significance is commemorated by Antiqueños during the Binirayan Festival held annually.
DENR-6 executive director Francisco Milla Jr., for his part, said that under the leadership of DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu, more projects are in the pipeline for this province such as the new office building of DENR- PENRO with a P25-million budget and the Sunset View Park in this capital town. (With a report from PIA/PN)
