What was once a road. A road in Brgy. Binday was destroyed after it was washed away by the rampaging waters of the Bued River lat 3 October 2009. The above photo shows the concrete wall washed out by the river. It shows where the river was before the erosion of the road and farm lands.--------------------------------------
5 October 2009 – San Fabian. The irrigation canal that is bringing the much needed water for the several hundred hectares of Barangays Anong, including Baraoas, Cabaruan, Binday, Aramal and Angio was finally destroyed by the strong current of Bued River. The strong current also destroyed some rice lands ready for harvesting. The massive erosion also moved the river bed about 20 meters inland.An officer of the National Irrigation Administration who were at the scene of the destroyed and eroded irrigation canal said unless the quarrying activities being done at the Bued River be stopped, erosions of agricultural lands and houses will continue. In a statement made by the Municipal Agriculturist of San Fabian during the 10 September 2009, forum on the quarrying activities sponsored by the Parish, around 30 hectares of arable lands have already been lost due to erosion precipitated by the continuous quarrying activities.
The result of the September 10 forum was the signing of a petition addressed to the Governor Amado T. Espino to stop the unregulated quarrying activities in San Fabian. The letter was signed by hundreds of parishioners and concerned citizens. The letter was handed over to the provincial government last 28 September. It was received by Mr. Raffy Baraan, the provincial Administrator.
It was also learned that the Sangguniang Bayan of San Fabian passed a resolution (Res. No. 60-S-2009) requesting the provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO) to temporarily stop the quarrying activities. The resolution also affirmed that the quarrying activities have caused heavy damages on farm lands and properties. The resolution was authored by Kgd. Saturnino C. Distor, and approved by all the members of the council.
The farmers affected by the destruction of the irrigation canals were now very worried. Their palays are in a stage when they need more water. But with the destruction of the canals, they do not know how they can salvage their harvest this year. Last year, these farmers were not able to plant because of the lack of irrigated water. Binday Dam collapsed at the height of Typhoon Cosme. Binday Dam is providing irrigated water to more than 1,000 hectares in San Fabian and the nearby townS of San Jacinto and Manaoag. Around 2,701 famers benefit from Binday Dam. It was found out that the destruction of the dam was caused by the continuous quarrying activities at the Bued River.
A Statement of Concern was issued by Rev. Fr. Oliver E. Mendoza, the parish priest, regarding the quarrying activities. It was ready in all the masses last 20 September 2009.
The famers are afraid that they will face another difficult year. They are crying for one thing: Stop the quarrying activities!
No more flowing water. The irrigation canal which used to be overflowing with water at this time of the year has dried up. Famers from four barangays of San Fabian are facing the destruction of their palays because of the continued quarrying activities.------------------------
To see more pictures of the erosion caused by the quarrying activities, please click HERE.
