A key institution has expressed interest in helping crusaders who are opposing the waterfront reclamation project in Tagbilaran City.
A source said that the institution already reached out, via email, to a member of the crusading groups which expressed opposition to the plan of a certain company to reclaim 153 hectares off the shores of Bohol’s capital city.
The institution’s top official has been involved in the study of several reclamation projects and is slated to meet the members of the groups who are opposing the reclamation plan.
The source withheld the identity of the institution for now until the proper clearances have been obtained. Currently, it is safe to say that the interest coming from the institution is a welcome development in the quest of some Tagbilaranons to impede the progress of the reclamation project.
The latest development comes at the heels of the emergence of groups who have expressed opposition to the project. A lady lawyer leads a group of people, who in due time, will express publicly their sentiments against the issue.
Moreover, there is also a group of experts preparing a position paper in opposition of the project and soon will be revealed to the public once the data are complete.
BACKGROUND
The support against the reclamation project is swelling as some people see the reclamation idea as something that would negatively impact the environment and displace small fishermen in the area who rely on the waters off Tagbilaran City for livelihood.
The opposition comes days after the Tagbilaran Waterfront Development Corporation (TWDC) presented its unsolicited proposal to the Sangguniang Panglungsod in a special session on Oct. 19, 2022.
TWDC presented its plan to create an artificial island off the coast of the city to provide more spaces for development.
However, some groups have expressed apprehension seeing the reclamation may only lead to environmental disaster at the expense of development.
In an interview, Tagbilaran vice mayor Adam Jala stressed the project will go through tough public scrutiny as the people of the city will be consulted accordingly regarding the reclamation issue.
At least 4 coastal barangays in Tagbilaran City are included in the reclamation plan with an estimated cost of nearly P12 billion, according to reports.
The reclamation will have an area of 153 hectares, more or less, which broken down will amount to 89.968 hectares, covering Booy straight to a portion of Taloto for the 1st phase of the project.
The 2nd phase will involve an area of 11.677 hectares at the foreshore of Poblacion 2.
Furthermore, the 3rd phase will involve the reclamation of 51.384 hectares in Mansasa and in Poblacion 1.
The cost of building the project is further broken down as follows: P9.53 billion for reclamation works, P1.76 billion for infrastructure support, and pre-implementation will cost P0.70 billion.
In the event the project pushes through, each square meter of the reclamation area will cost around P7,785, the proponents said in their presentation.
The city government will not be spending anything for the reclamation project, according to Coun. Nerio Zamora II.
About 51 percent of the reclaimed land will be owned by the city government while the remainder will be in the possession of the proponent, Zamora added.
The TWDC is composed of Cebu Landmasters Inc., Lite Shipping Inc., Lite Properties Inc., Ulticon Builders Inc. and Aldama Mining Resources Inc. Two Boholano are involved in the proponents’ group and they are Lucio Lim Jr. of Lite Propoerties, Inc. and Ding Borja of another corporation.
Reports say that the reclamation project is an offshoot of the public-private partnership scheme of former president Duterte.