Online petition against Cordova reclamation project

The proposed 1500-ha reclamation project will be located along the foreshore and offshore areas at the southwestern coast of Cordova bounded by the Mactan Channel and the Gilutongan Channel.

AN online petition had been circulated to mobilize public support against the proposed reclamation project in Cordova town.

The project, pegged by environmental groups to be the “biggest” reclamation project in the country with a total reclaimed area of 1,500 hectares, was the subject of a petition filed by a certain Jerome Alimpangog

The petition which sought 100 signatures is addressed to Cebu Provincial Gov. Hilario Davide III and the Cebu Provincial Board.

READ: Cebu reclamation authority authorizes Cordova to negotiate for dev’t project

“All told this 1,500 hectare reclamation project is a losing proposition for all and serves nothing more than the greed of businessmen and politicians. It kills marine life and their habitat, it kills food supply, it kills livelihood, it kills tourism. Long after its proponents are dead and buried, the projects effects and harm will be felt for generations,” Alimpangog said in the letter.

Last month, the Provincial Board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing Cordova town to negotiate with SM Prime Holdings Inc. for the project which will cost P138 billion.

It will reclaim the foreshore area within the boundaries of barangays Day-as and Pilipilog, a total land area that is about five times than South Road Properties of Cebu City.

The petition has gained 43 signature from online users who are required to enter their name, email address and address.

“This is a very short-sighted view of development. Decisions and acts like this are selfish and irresponsible most especially when it ignores long-term impact and damage to our environment and the larger ecosystem. I hope Cebu stops this. The times are calling for respect for and restoration of nature, not a downward spiral to destruction,” said one petitioner Ma. Clara Rowena Ebdani.

“This is not good for the environment and the project wont improve the quality of life of the majority of poor and middle class filipinos but only the few self serving politicians and very rich big businessmen,” said Randy Arcales from Cebu City.

Another petitioner, Liza Quinain of Mandaue City said the project will only “kill the marine life and their habitat, kills food supply, kills livelihood, and kills tourism.”

Environmental lawyer Golly Estenzo-Ramos said reclamation project has a direct impact on the marine ecosystem.
Cordova is one one of the biggest areas in the country to have seagrass beds. Seagrass which grows in the shallow marine waters of Cordova are home to species that are vital to the town’s fishing community.

The seagrass is a habitat for juvenile fishes and serve as a breeding ground for fishes, and saltwater eel (bakasi) which makes the town famous.

Ramos said the proposed reclamation project will impact heavily in the Danajon Double Barrier Reef that has supplied marine food supply for Cebu, Southern Leyte and Bohol.

The Cebu provincial government, Lapu-Lapu City and Cordova towns are among the 17 municipalities and four provinces that has a direct jurisdication of the Danajob Bank.

The Danajon double barrier reef is the only barrier reef in the Philippines and Southeast asia with 270 square kilometers of reef.

In the other side of Cebu coast, another reclamation project is proposed by the Toledo City government.

READ: Toledo city reclamation pushed

READ: Toledo reclamation starts without permits

Although the 11-hectare reclamation is small compared to Cordova, environmentalists posed concerns that the project will have a disastrous effect to the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, an environmentally critical area./ with Cebu Technological University Intern Marc Cosep