Background

In Barangay Bangquerohan, Cadiz City, residents and fisherfolk have long depended on the coastal creek and mangrove wetland for their livelihood and protection from floods.

Once a thriving habitat for fish, crabs, and migratory birds, this wetland now lies buried under sand and soil. The natural creek — part of a wider wetland system that connects to the sea and neighboring sitios like Kanipaan and Sta. Maria — is being backfilled and choked for a private resort, threatening local ecosystems and displacing the community’s source of life.

On October 17, 2025, HAKSON Inc. held a dialogue with residents and fisherfolk about the ongoing reclamation. Despite community opposition, dumping activities reportedly continue. The affected residents, under the Bangquerohan Fisherfolks Association (BFA), have filed a formal petition and complaint against the backfilling, citing violations of environmental laws and the absence of proper consultation.

Why This Matters

Wetlands and mangroves act as natural flood barriers and breeding grounds for marine life. Their destruction directly endangers coastal communities, worsens flooding, and contributes to long-term ecological collapse.

This fight goes beyond just Bangquerohan: it’s for all coastal communities whose environments are being buried in the name of unchecked “development.”

Our Demands

We call on the City Government of Cadiz, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Barangay Council of Bangquerohan to:

 1. Immediately stop the sand dumping and backfilling in the Bangquerohan wetland and creek area.

 2. Conduct an independent investigation into the reclamation activities and their environmental impact; hold accountable those proven guilty of such activities;

 3. Restore and rehabilitate the damaged portions of the creek and mangrove wetland.

 4. Ensure genuine consultation and participation of affected residents and fisherfolk in all future projects.

Sign this petition to help protect the last remaining wetlands of Bangquerohan.

Every signature strengthens the community’s demand to stop the destruction and hold accountable those responsible.

Let’s stand together for our seas, our wetlands, and the lives that depend on them.

#SaveBangquerohanWetlands #StopTheDumping #ProtectOurFisherfolk