Story: Bob Villablanca
Photos from the net
Photos from the net
TACLOBAN CITY – The Borongan City council passed a resolution asking the Department of Public Works and Highways regional office to suspend the construction of a 1.6-kilometer seawall that is aimed at protecting the city from future storm surges.
This came after village officials, fisherfolks and environmentalists complained that its initial construction in a fishing village involved extraction of corals that it used as its foundation and the seawall was mounted too close to reef line.
Vice Mayor Emmanuel Tiu Sonco said the council wants DPWH-8 to suspend the seawall construction and conduct immediate consultations with all stakeholders in compliance to standard procedures in the implementation of government projects.
Tiu Sonco said the project has a potential to impact not only to the environment and the livelihood of the people but also the future tourism plans of the city.
According to DPWH-8, the project plans to construct a 1,365-meters barrier that spreads across 2-kms of the city's beachfront. The seawall construction is divided into six phases with a budget of P144-million for each phase.
This came after village officials, fisherfolks and environmentalists complained that its initial construction in a fishing village involved extraction of corals that it used as its foundation and the seawall was mounted too close to reef line.
Vice Mayor Emmanuel Tiu Sonco said the council wants DPWH-8 to suspend the seawall construction and conduct immediate consultations with all stakeholders in compliance to standard procedures in the implementation of government projects.
Tiu Sonco said the project has a potential to impact not only to the environment and the livelihood of the people but also the future tourism plans of the city.
According to DPWH-8, the project plans to construct a 1,365-meters barrier that spreads across 2-kms of the city's beachfront. The seawall construction is divided into six phases with a budget of P144-million for each phase.
Joel Capones, village chief of Brgy. Lalawigan, said the project contractor has excavated a great number of corrals that it used as foundation.
Capones said they want the project implementer to stop the destruction of corals to protect. He said if the project is really intended to protect his community, it should adjust the location of the seawall.
"They should use land owned by the government, not the corals, not the beach. The extraction of sand alone is prohibited, why would they destroy the corals that fish and shells inhabit? They lay their eggs there," Capones said.
"Dynamite fishing has long been prohibited because it destroys the corals, and now it is the backhoe that's destroying the corals, which should not be the case," he added.
Last Tuesday, 19 March, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office wrote the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office to seek its opinion regarding possible violations that the infrastructure project might have incurred.
Capones said they want the project implementer to stop the destruction of corals to protect. He said if the project is really intended to protect his community, it should adjust the location of the seawall.
"They should use land owned by the government, not the corals, not the beach. The extraction of sand alone is prohibited, why would they destroy the corals that fish and shells inhabit? They lay their eggs there," Capones said.
"Dynamite fishing has long been prohibited because it destroys the corals, and now it is the backhoe that's destroying the corals, which should not be the case," he added.
Last Tuesday, 19 March, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office wrote the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office to seek its opinion regarding possible violations that the infrastructure project might have incurred.
In the letter addressed to CENR Officer Forester Flordeliza Dela Cruz, the City ENR Office said that its survey in the area shows that extraction of corrals was still being made.
Meanwhile, City Information Officer Rupert Ambil said DPWH-8 should be held accountable for the project's incursion on the reef line and its resulting destruction to the corals. He said that the City Government is firm in its resolve to halt any endeavor that poses grave threats to the environment.
Ambil said Lalawigan beach is home to an abundant reef system which serves as a sanctuary to a diverse fish species, which Lalawigan residents take pride in and depend on for their daily living. He said the seawall will raise the beach barrier which can be detrimental to Lalawigan Beach's tourism potentials.(CJ/jmm/BV)
Meanwhile, City Information Officer Rupert Ambil said DPWH-8 should be held accountable for the project's incursion on the reef line and its resulting destruction to the corals. He said that the City Government is firm in its resolve to halt any endeavor that poses grave threats to the environment.
Ambil said Lalawigan beach is home to an abundant reef system which serves as a sanctuary to a diverse fish species, which Lalawigan residents take pride in and depend on for their daily living. He said the seawall will raise the beach barrier which can be detrimental to Lalawigan Beach's tourism potentials.(CJ/jmm/BV)
