San Fernando residents cry foul over port project
Since the age of six, Engr. Fernando Alcuizar has already been fishing in the seawaters of Barangay Sangat in San Fernando town, southern Cebu.
Alcuizar graduated Mechanical Engineering in 2010 from the University of Cebu and passed the licensure examination the following year.
The 32-year-old Alcuizar said he used to catch fish in the area using a “panggal,” a basket made of bamboo where the fishes are trapped inside, earning from P500 to P600 a day.
“Due to the abundance of our seawaters, I finished my studies and made my life more comfortable. But every now and then, I still go back to the sea and take a glimpse of my hardship in the past. The sea has already been part of my life,” said Alcuizar, who now earns more than P20,000 a month as an engineer.
He said that currently, fisherfolk in their area are earning over a thousand pesos a day.
But their livelihood is now threatened, after an international port is expected to be built in their barangay.
San Fernando Mayor Lakambini “Neneth” Reluya said that the multi-million project has already started and is expected to boost the economy of Barangay Sangat and create more employment.
Reluya said that the Sangat Bay Development Corp. project will be financed by a private company.
“The company has already completed the required documents, which means that construction at Sangat Bay could already start,” Reluya said.
The fisherfolk of North Sangat Bantay Dagat Fishermen Association (NSBDFA) opposed the project as it will affect their livelihood.
Alcuizar, spokesperson of NSBDFA, said a dredging operation is now ongoing at the seawaters of Barangay Sangat for the implementation of the project.
He added that more than 20 hectares of seawaters will be reclaimed for the project.
“If our seawaters will be reclaimed, what will happen to our livelihood? The mangroves and marine resources that we’ve taken care of for so many years?” Alcuizar said.
Alcuizar claimed that their group has not been consulted about the project. “Our attention was not called during the public hearing of the project,” he said.
Last December 18, 2017, the group filed a complaint against the project in their barangay. The same complaint was also filed at the office of the mayor and at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 last week.
Based on their letter-complaint, the group questioned the legality of the project for lack of consultation or public hearing.
They also questioned the acquisition of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and the notice to proceed that was issued and signed by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director William Cuñado.
But Mayor Reluya said they couldn’t stop the project since its proponent has submitted to them the necessary documents.
Last Tuesday, a conference was initiated by Reluya for NSBDFA, the contractor, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (FARMC) officials, and barangay officials to settle the issue.
Another conference is set to be conducted next week to tackle the issue.
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