Reclamation or restoration?

CEBU, Philippines - The benefits of restoration as opposed to reclamation were discussed by the Cebu Association of Political Science Organizations in their forum titled “The National Reclamation Plan, Development For Whom?” at the Cebu Cultural Center inside the UP Cebu Campus.

The academe and civil society called for active discussion and action on the ill-effects of reclamation projects in the country, particularly in Central Visayas.

Kabataan Partylist representative and Member of People’s Network for the Integrity of Coastal Habitats and Ecosystems Raymond Palatino said the national reclamation plan has 102 projects around the country covering more than 38,000 hectares of shoreline.

Thirty-eight of the projects are concentrated in Manila Bay, seven in the Visayas and another seven in Southern Mindanao.

Certain factors were identified to consider when doing these projects, Palatino added.  These included ensuring the welfare of the displaced fisherfolks, acknowledging vulnerability to climate change, preventing development aggression, pursuing comprehensive planning prior to project implementation and taking into consideration the marine biodiversity.

Apart from the frequently discussed damage to corals, it is actually the loss of sea grass is actually worse effect of reclamation, Palatino said, adding that one acre of lost sea grass is equivalent to 40,000 homeless infant fishes.

University of San Carlos Department of Sociology, Anthropology and History assistant professor Zona Amper shared his study on the effects of the South Road Properties on the former fishing community of Sitio Alumnos, Barangay Basak San Nicolas.

“The people initially refused to stop fishing but circumstances forced them to. Some of them either tried full-time company employment, home-based work like sari-sari store, doing export handicrafts outsourced by companies, and even resort to small-time betting just to rotate the meager money that they have,” said Amper who started his immersion with the community since the SRP reclamation works in 1997.

“I got to witness their gradual transformation from being so aggressive in stopping the reclamation project to losing hope and continue living the hard life,” she added.

The residents that she interacted unanimously wanted the sea back because they can still eat thrice a day without spending money, Amper said.

The forum is part of the Cebu Political Science Students’ Congress 2013 where political science students from various colleges and universities in Cebu City annually gather for activities.  (FREEMAN)