By Donald Borja Sevilla
The Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, Alberto “Abet” Uy, has expressed his
opposition to the planned reclamation projects in the province of Bohol.
In a pastoral letter, he said these sea reclamation projects would cause irreversible
damage to the marine ecosystem and destroy the livelihood of coastal communities.
In his letter, titled “Justice should flow like a stream; goodness is also like a spring
that does not run dry”, he cited the words of the Prophet Amos to reveal God’s will
for the world and all its inhabitants.
Bishop Abet Uy said God wants everyone to live according to justice, peace, and
harmony with nature.
“Maoy kabubut-on sa Diyos nga ang tanan magpuyo pinasubay sa kaangayan aron
maghari ang kalinaw ug molambo ang kinabuhi,” Uy said in his pastoral letter
penned in Bisaya.
The bishop reminded the faithful that taking care of the environment is part of their
Christian responsibility and that destroying or abusing it is a form of injustice.
“Atong sublion ang pahinumdom nga apil sa atong Kristohanong kaakohan ang pag-
amping sa kinaiyahan,” Bishop Uy said.
“Ang pagguba o pag-abuso niini usa ka matang sa inhustisya tungod kay paghikaw
man kini sa unsay angay unta natong ambitan kauban sa tanang kamugnaan,” he
pointed out.
Uy said that no one has an exclusive right to use nature, which is a gift of God for
all.
He said it is unfair that only some companies or families would benefit from the
reclamation projects while others would suffer from their negative consequences.
Without naming names of those who are involved in reclamation projects in Bohol,
the Bishop said: “Walay naghupot og eksklusibo nga katungod sa paggamit sa
kinaiyahan nga usa ka gasa sa Diyos alang sa tanan. Dili makiangayon nga ang
pipila ka kompanya o pamilya lamang ang mabulahan samtang ang uban mag-antos
sa malangkubong epekto sa pagkaguba sa kalibutan nga pinuy-anan sa tanan.”
He listed some of the threats that the reclamation projects pose to the environment
and the people, such as the destruction of the natural habitat and ecosystem of the
aquatic organisms, the disruption of the migration routes of fish and other marine
species, and the scarcity of fish, shellfish, and other food sources.
According to his letter, the planned reclamation projects in Bohol have brought
sorrow to his soul.
“Apil sa mga kalihokan nga atong gikagul-an mao ang plano nga maghimo og
reclamation projects sa atong lalawigan,” Uy wrote.
“Ang reclamation projects nagdala og daghang mga hulga batok sa kinaiyahan ug sa
mga katilingban nga nagpuyo sa atong mga lapyahan,” he said. “Apil sa mga kadaot
nga mamahimong bunga niini mao ang pagkaguba sa natural habitat ug ecosystem
sa mga organismo nga anaa sa tubig.”
He appealed to the schools in the city and province that have the capacity to conduct
scientific research to do a detailed study on the concrete damages that the
reclamation projects would bring.
Uy said that this would help them to know the truth and to make informed decisions.
He also suggested some activities for the parishes and the various religious
organizations to carry out during the Season of Creation, which runs from September
1 to October 4.
These activities include tree planting, coastal/riverside/plaza clean-up, and garbage
segregation education.
Concluding his letter, the bishop called on the people of Bohol and their leaders to
continue to strive to preserve and develop nature, in order to glorify God, the Creator
of all things, “and to let justice and peace flow in their land.”
TAGBILARAN RECLAMATION
Proposed reclamation projects in Tagbilaran City have been reported as a part of the
city government’s plan to address the increasing urbanization and economic
expansion in the coastal areas.
In an earlier news report, then mayor of Tagbilaran, John Geesnell “Baba” Yap, had
said that a feasibility study on the proposed project was conducted and approved by
the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), which is the government agency
responsible for regulating and overseeing all reclamation activities in the country.
However, not everyone was in favor of the reclamation projects, as some
environmentalists, academics, and residents have expressed their concerns about
the potential negative impacts on the marine ecosystem and the livelihood of the
coastal communities, the news report said.
A study in 2017 by environmental experts had assessed the current politics of
foreshore reclamation in Tagbilaran City based on the analysis of its emerging
challenges and prospects.
The study, published on sobiad.org by Erika Barbarona
(https://sobiad.org/eJOURNALS/journal_IJEF/archieves/IJEFS2017-1/erika-
Barbarona.pdf), found out that the respondents have seen the challenge of having
an increase of transportation and population explosion that would result to high level
of noise and disturbance of the ecosystem and nature.
The study also revealed that some businessmen who are in the government are
holding back the people in deciding about the existence of foreshore reclamation.
Research results revealed that there are still more public land areas available to
utilize and develop that would not lead them to resort for foreshore reclamation.
The reclamation projects in Tagbilaran City are therefore a controversial issue that
involves various stakeholders with different interests and perspectives, researchers
said in a paper published
on academia.edu (https://www.academia.edu/69235003/Current_Politics_of_Foresh
ore_Reclamation_in_Tagbilaran_City_The_Emerging_Prospects_and_Challenges).
The PRA, as the regulatory body, has to ensure that the reclamation projects are
compliant with the laws and policies governing foreshore activities, as well as with
the principles of environmental justice and social responsibility, marine scientists
said.
Scientists said the city government of Tagbilaran, as the proponent, has to balance
the economic benefits and costs of the reclamation projects, as well as to consult
and engage with the affected communities and sectors.
The environmentalists, academics, and residents, as the critics, have to voice out
their opinions and concerns, as well as to propose alternative solutions or mitigating
measures for the reclamation projects, the research paper said.