For Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña, the sea in barangay Poblacion is heavily polluted with human wastes and has no significant marine life.
He said he plans to tap experts in Silliman University to study it.
He said they would be “more credible” than the Sea Knights and Oceana Philippines whose divers made a marine assessment in the area last Saturday.
Sixteen divers made an underwater assessment in the bay of barangay Poblacion where Mayor Osmena and Toledo city officials plan to undertake an 11-hectare reclamation.
READ: Toledo city reclamation pushed
Oceana Philippines which is at the forefront of marine conservation of the Tañon Strait, a protected seascape, has come out firmly opposing any reclamation there.
Their initial assessment showed that there were were clear signs of marine life like sea horses, puffer fish and sea grass but few corals.
“There is none. What you can see are floating human wastes. The sea water is so polluted because of the presence of the silt,” Osmeña told Cebu Daily News.
He asked why the divers assessed areas beyond the planned site of the reclamation, which will be 50 meters from the sea wall.
“I am planning to go to Siliman University and ask the Department of Oceanography if they could conduct marine assessment which is more credible,” he added.
Last May 15, a consultative assembly was held with 200 residents from the coastal areas of barangay Poblacion.
READ: Toledo residents: ‘No’ to reclamation project
Barangay councilman Erick Laspoña said those who attended opposed the project and that now was not the right time for a reclamation project king because the city government must first address more pressing concerns.
On this, Osmeña said, “There are only hundreds who opposed and do you know the population in barangay Poblacion? It’s 13,000 people. Where’s the sense of democracy?” Osmeña said, laughing.
The project will push through despite opposition, he added.
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