DPWH sets public hearing today for P89M Boljoon project
Clouds of dust hang over sitio Talisay at the foot of Ili Rock where excavation goes on. Ths photo was taken in the afternoon of Nov. 19 by a resident. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
A public consultation is set at 2 p.m. today by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Boljoon town to explain the damage in Ili Rock.
It come two months after the agency’s contractor started excavating the limestone mountain and dumping boulders on the white sand beach below as remedial action to prevent further landslides.
“The planning stage is over. But since they want us to call for a public consultation, we are calling for one ,” said Marlon Marollano, chief of the 4th engineering district of DPWH’s planning and design section.
Amid complaints from fishermen disturbed by the earth-moving, the Boljoon municipal council on Nov. 17 passed a resolution urging DPWH to immediately stop the project until a public hearing is held to explain what’s going on.
This will be the first formal consultation with community residents.
The DPWH verbally notified the Office of Boljoon Mayor Merlou Derama last Tuesday that a meeting will be held with residents at the town’s sports complex.
Marollano said that during their site inspection after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake last year, some residents were told by DPWH staff of plans to do interventions in Ili Rock to prevent another landslide.
Calamity funds of P89.19 million was released by the national government for two projects in Boljoon – slope benching of Ili Rock and reclamation, rehabilitation and reconstruction of shore protection in sitio Talisay in the poblacion.
“Wala nana consultation if naa na ang kwarta. Kung maabot na ang kwarta deretso nana for implementation,” said Marollano.
(There’s no consultation if the project funds are there. If the money arrives, we directly implement.)
But Boljoon residents complain that prior consultation with town officials and other stakeholders is needed.
Under the Local Government Code, national government agencies must conduct prior consultations and project plans must be approved by the sanggunian (council) concerned.
Fishermen were angered by the rocks and boulders dumped on the beach, blocking passage of their boats.
The seawater is murky with the sediment of wastes. Clouds of dust, as well as the noise of jackhammers and heavy equipment operating until late evening has caused sleepless nights for the coastal village of Talisay.
Frustrated by the lack of answers from several government agencies, a group of young Boljoon residents sought the help of the Movement for Livable Cebu (MLC) in Cebu City.
They met with environmental lawyer Gloria Estenzo-Ramos, Wednesday night for legal advice.
“What they are doing in Boljoon is a blatant, brazen disregard of the laws,” Ramos told the group.
She said DPWH can be held for violation of several law.
She cited PD 979, the Marine Pollution Decree, PD 1151 also known as the Philippine Environmental Policy which requires environmental impact assessment to any project that affects the quality of the environment; RA 8550 or the Fisheries Code of 1998; RA 9257 or the Philippine Clean Water Act; and RA 10066 or the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009.
Ongoing reclamation work starts at the foot of Ili Rock, which is a few meters away from Bolhoon’s church, Nuestra Senora del Patrocinio church.
The reclamation work extends to the Poblacion barangay hall across it.
No permit was issued by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Marollano said in a previous interview that DPWH doesn’t need a permit because the budget request was for a “’rehabilitation/ reconstruction of shore protection structures’” of Poblacion, Boljoon.
He said it was only when the budget was released that the word “reclamation” was included by the central office.
“Our request was really for rehabilitation and repair of shore protection but gipanindot man sa central office ila gibutangan og word na ‘reclamation’ mao nga amo nalang sad na gibutangan or reclamation component kay basin ma question sad mi na walay reclamation kay naa baya reclamation sa ila gi release na budget,” he said.
He said there were many ongoing reclamation projects in other towns like Dalaguete, Moalboal, Alegria and Naga while Boljoon had none and was “alkanse”’.
“And besides this is an adaptation to climate change project because the sea level will rise. If there’s no reclamation, residents would be affected. Why should they stop this small reclamation project when this is for them? Don’t they want a park?” he added.
He said since DPWH got many feelers from residents who opposed the reclamation, the agency ordered the contractor to stop work since Tuesday.
But Wednesday night until yesterday, residents told CDN they observed more heavy equipment in the area.
“Mas daghan na equipment dire than before. Nag dump na sila og mga bato and anapog likod sa barangay hall,” said one Boljoon resident Wednesday night.
Boljoon residents including members of the MLC will join the public consultation today.
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