Claimant: Mandaue’s Global City may affect mangroves

The mangroves beside the Cansaga bridge in Barangay Paknaan that are seen to be affected by the Global City reclamation project. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

A land claimant of Zone Sibuyas, Barangay Paknaan in Mandaue City objected to plans by the Mandaue City government to set up a 131-hectare Global City project.

Mario Cabahug, who was invited to a consultation on the project, said he was afraid that the city government reclamation project would uproot five hectares’ worth of mangroves within the area.

“Dili sila ka reclaim anang 131 hectares nga dili mahilabtan ang mangrove area kay halos katunga sa lugar pulos mangroves (They cannot reclaim 131 hectares without touching the mangrove area because about half of the area is covered by mangroves),” Cabahug said.

Last Friday’s consultation also discussed the environmental impact of the reclamation project which seeks to house an international port, the 3rd Mandaue-Mactan bridge as well as industrial and commercial buildings.

Mandaue City planning officer Florentino Nimor said the mangroves in the area will be preserved and not removed.

“We have identified mangroves in Barangay Paknaan and Barangay Labogon which will be preserved,” Nimor said.

He also questioned Cabahug’s claims, saying the city’s records didn’t show him as holding a land title, nor paying taxes for the land.

Nimor said Cabahug should show proof of his tax payments and have it registered at the City Assessor’s Office.

Cabahug said he feared that his claim may be negated by Mandaue City’s charter which stated that the city owned all foreshore lands except for those identified as owned by the national government. Cabahug said the land he is claiming has 200 settlers in the mangrove area.