DAMAGE IS DONE – Coastal mangroves that once lined the shoreline of Barangay Cruz in Buenavista, Bohol, now give way to the steel and concrete infrastructure of the AMICI Marine Shipyard, Bohol’s first industrial shipbuilding facility. Critics say the 19-hectare development came at an ecological price — the clearing of mangrove forests that served as nurseries for marine life, natural barriers against storm surge, and carbon sinks for surrounding coastal communities. The allegations, which surfaced on social media, have drawn scrutiny to the environmental trade-offs of industrial expansion along one of the Philippines’ most ecologically sensitive coastlines. (Contributed photo)
The mayor of Buenavista, Bohol is standing firmly behind a local shipyard at the center of social media allegations, saying the facility operates fully within the law and that attacks against it are politically motivated.
Mayor Dave Duallo said the Artemis Marine and Industrial Construction, Inc. (AMICI) Marine Shipyard in Barangay Cruz has secured all necessary permits from the local government and complied with requirements of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), pushing back against online claims that the facility had damaged mangroves in the area.
“The issues being raised against the shipyard are political,” Duallo said, adding that criticism of the facility was being used to cast a negative light on Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado.
The shipyard is owned and operated by AMICI under the Cebu-based Primary Group of Builders and was inaugurated in late November 2023 as Bohol’s first shipbuilding and repair facility. It holds a Marina Class-B license and sits on a 19-hectare site described by the company as one of the largest shipyards in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
The facility offers ship repair, drydocking, structural fabrication, piping, propulsion systems, hydraulics, and engine and gearbox overhaul services. It can accommodate eight to ten vessels simultaneously for drydocking, with a main slipway capable of handling vessels exceeding 100 meters in length. The project involved an investment of over P1 billion pesos.
AMICI employs more than 300 workers, with roughly 80 percent drawn from the town residents, though some accounts place total employment closer to 500 workers from Buenavista and nearby towns.
The company has also undertaken community programs including mangrove reforestation, school support, medical missions, and disaster recovery assistance, tying the facility’s presence to broader social commitments in the municipality.
In 2025, the Professional Regulatory Board of Naval Architecture inspected the site and commended the shipyard for its safety compliance and workforce development programs.
FUEL CRISIS RESPONSE
Apart from defending the shipyard, Duallo outlined measures his administration has adopted in response to the fuel price crisis, which has hit the country amid escalating tensions in the Middle East that have tightened global petroleum supply chains.
The mayor said the crisis ultimately requires a national government solution, as the central government holds the authority to act on fuel pricing — the most expensive in the region.
At the municipal level, however, Duallo said the local government unit has limited vehicle operations and suspended certain services to cut fuel consumption.
The LGU has maintained the standard five-day workweek but imposed energy conservation measures, including reduced use of air conditioners and other high-consumption appliances in government offices.
SPORTS INCENTIVES, GOVERNOR’S CUP SUSPENSION
On other matters, Duallo said Buenavista has awarded cash incentives to athletes from the town who competed in the Central Visayas Regional Athletic Association meet, calling the financial rewards one way the local government can motivate competitors to push for higher performance.
The mayor also weighed in on the suspension of the Governor’s Cup basketball tournament, acknowledging mixed reactions from participating towns that had already prepared for the competition.
He called on the public to understand the decision to cancel the event, saying the country’s current crisis situation justified the move and that the provincial government stands to save funds that would otherwise have gone toward the tournament.