The proposed P12-billion reclamation project in Tagbilaran City, which aims to create a new
urban center and economic zone, should undergo a public consultation process before it is
implemented, according to a group of environmental planners.
Engr. Maria Ana Pulido, the president of the Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners
(PIEP), said that the project could have significant effects on the environment, the livelihood
of the residents, and the overall development of the province.
She made the statement during an interview with Kwentas Klaras in DYTR Bohol on
Thursday, as part of the PIEP’s five-day national convention in Bohol.
Pulido, who leads more than 7,000 environmental planners nationwide, said that the project
should be subjected to a thorough environmental impact assessment and a social
acceptability study, to ensure that it is sustainable and beneficial for the people.
She also said that the project should be aligned with the vision and goals of Bohol, which
was recently declared as a UNESCO Global Geopark, the first and only one in the country.
“A geopark is a recognition of the natural and cultural heritage of a place, and it also implies
a responsibility to protect and conserve it. The reclamation project should not compromise
the geopark status of Bohol, but rather enhance it,” she said.
Pulido added that the PIEP is willing to collaborate with the local government and other
stakeholders to provide technical assistance and guidance on the planning and
implementation of the project.
The PIEP is the national organization of licensed environmental planners in the Philippines,
whose mission is to promote the advancement and practice of environmental planning in the
country.
The group is holding its 53rd national convention in Bohol from November 6 to 10, with the
theme “Environmental Planning in the New Normal: Challenges and Opportunities”.
The convention features various activities, such as lectures, workshops, field visits, and
exhibits, to showcase the best practices and innovations in the field of environmental
planning.