"Why are they desperate to push a project that will destroy the environment and harm their constituents?"
More than 80 civil society groups recently called on government agencies to stop rushing the approval of reclamation projects over fears that it would destroy the environment and lead to the loss of livelihood for vulnerable stakeholders such as fisherfolk.
Some notable planned reclamation projects that were mentioned include the 174-hectare project in Dumaguete City and the 230-hectare project in Consolacion, Cebu.
Among the ongoing reclamation projects, the one in Dumaguete has garnered the most media attention recently. For one, Senator Risa Hontiveros called for an investigation of the project over concerns that stakeholders were not adequately consulted. Those who have expressed their opposition to the project include the diocese and a National Scientist.
Indeed, it is good that the public is speaking out on the dangers of the Dumaguete reclamation project. However, we should not neglect how the planned reclamation project in Consolacion will harm the environment.
Consolacion Vice Mayor Teresa Alegado said that the LGU had secured a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Reclamation Authority. However, a roadblock still remains in that an Environmental Certificate is needed for the project to move forward.
The Environmental Certificate must not be given to the LGU and La Consolacion Seafront Development Corporation because of the glaring flaws of the project.
Reclamation projects naturally involve massive dumping of land into the affected area. For the Consolacion reclamation project, the amount of materials needed is not just massive—it is impossible to procure.
According to calculations, the LGU and LCSDC would need 1.6 million trucks carrying sand and gravel to Consolacion. Each truck is assumed to be carrying 13.5 cubic meters of backfill materials, which is the maximum amount allowed under regulations by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Assuming a highly unlikely scenario that they can find 1.6 million trucks to do that, then that means the LGU and LCSDC would heavily rely on quarrying to procure the backfill materials they need.
However, quarrying presents an inherent environmental risk in that there is an increased risk of floods to communities wherein there are quarrying sites. Consolacion in itself is already prone to flooding, so the province will be even more vulnerable to stronger typhoons.
It is also important to note that these civil society groups have criticized the respective LGUs for implementing reclamation projects, such as the one in Consolacion, that destroy our natural resources such as mangroves, seagrasses, and coral reefs.
“The Philippines is known as the center of marine biodiversity as it is found at the apex of the Coral Triangle. However, this reputation may soon be lost with the wholesale approval of large-scale reclamation, aptly described as dump-and-fill projects all over the country,” groups like the Tayud Fisherfolks Urban Poor Association said.
Losing these natural resources will have major consequences to us. For example, research has shown that mangroves are excellent at mitigating the damage that strong floods cause to coastal communities. Losing them would mean that these communities would likely be destroyed should typhoons come.
Overall, the fact that the Consolacion LGU is rushing through this project is contradictory to the calls of civil society groups for greater scrutiny of the hazards of reclamation projects.
Why the need to rush the project? Is there a benefit of even doing that? Would the LGU personally benefit from rushing through the required processes and approvals?
Given the environmental hazards of the Consolacion reclamation project, there is a call to action to the general public, the media, and government agencies responsible for the approvals.
For the PRA, there must be questions on why it even agreed to a MOU with the LGU. While MOUs are different from a Memorandum of Agreement in that the latter signifies a former approval, agreeing to the MOU implies that it is approving the project despite the clear environmental hazards present.
The same question should also be asked of the Consolacion LGU officials: Why are they desperate to push a project that will destroy the environment, thus harming their constituents through events such as stronger floods?
For the Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, the Environmental Certificate must never be given unless these environmental hazards have been sufficiently addressed
The media must cover the issue of the Consolacion reclamation project with the same interest as they did on the Dumaguete project. Journalists are important if we want everyone to know how dangerous the Consolacion project is.
And finally, for the general public, we must be vocal—whether through social media or on the streets—in voicing out the hazards of the reclamation project. Government agencies must know and feel that once they give their approvals, it is a decision they would surely regret as they would directly cause harm to the communities of Consolacion.