A Tagbilaran City resident and environmental advocate has written a letter to the
Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) expressing her opposition to the reclamation project
of the Tagbilaran Bay.
Atty. Esther Gertrude D. Biliran, in her letter dated October 11, 2023, said that the
reclamation project is “not necessary, destructive, and would conflict with the
UNESCO’s declaration of Bohol as a Global Geopark.”
Biliran reminded the SP that the residents of Tagbilaran City and environmental
experts have long opposed the reclamation project of then City Mayor Jose Torralba
during his term more than a decade ago, for which the good mayor shelved the
project.
“For this administration to revive the opposed project is reflective not only of its short
memory but also of its refusal to listen to its residents and environmental experts,”
Biliran wrote.
She cited several grounds for her opposition, such as:
- The reclamation project would destroy the Tagbilaran Bay and its teeming marine
life; - It would cause flood to the affected coastal areas in the city, especially during high
tide, as the Tagbilaran Bay is not an open sea; - It would accumulate garbage at the coastal area;
- It would entail the levelling off of a mountain or hill to fill up the sea, which itself
destroys the mountain and its trees/plants and animals/habitat, and would cause soil
erosion; - It would deprive the small fishermen of their livelihood;
- It would deprive Tagbilaran residents of food, as many still gather shells or go
fishing at the Tagbilaran bay for their daily sustenance.
Biliran also said that pushing through with the project would run counter to the
UNESCO’s declaration of Bohol as a “Global Geopark”, the first and only in the
Philippines.
According to Bohol resident geologist Karl Michael Din, “geoparks are single, unified
geographical areas where sites and landscapes of international geological
significance are managed with a holistic concept of protection, education and
sustainable development.”
“While it is true that the Tagbilaran Bay is not a geopark per se, the concept of
holistic preservation and sustainable development likewise holds true to our seas
and marine resources. We should not only protect our geological sites. We should
also protect our seas and its marine life, which is also a pride of Tagbilaran City and
of Bohol,” Biliran wrote.
She added that the project would also contradict its “Asenso Pa More” slogan.
“Destruction of the Tagbilaran Bay and its marine resources, flooding, and
accumulation of garbage, cutting off of a mountain or hill, among others, is “Asenso
Pa Less”,” she wrote.
Biliran urged the SP to deny the Office of City Mayor Jane Cajes-Yap’s request for a
resolution approving the project.
The environmental warrior lawyer also hoped that the present and future city
government be as wise as Mayor Torralba and shelve the project altogether.
Biliran sent copies of her letter to the Office of the City Mayor and local media
outlets.
Meanwhile, Bishop of Tagbilaran City had earlier opposed reclamation projects in
Bohol.
Bishop Alberto Uy of the Diocese of Tagbilaran had expressed his opposition to the
planned reclamation projects in the province of Bohol in his Facebook posts.
In a pastoral letter, Bishop Uy said that these projects would cause irreversible
damage to the marine ecosystem and destroy the livelihood of coastal communities.
He also 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.”
Uy also 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.
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 also suggested some activities for the parishes and the various religious
organizations to carry out during the Season of Creation.
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 government
officials 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.”
The reclamation projects in Tagbilaran City have been proposed as a part of the city
government’s plan to address the increasing urbanization and economic expansion
in the coastal areas.
However, not everyone was in favor of the 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 Philippine Reclamation Authority (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, the Bishop 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, Uy said.
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, his pastoral letter stated.