Group: Stop Engaño recla project

CEBU, Philippines —  The Save Cebu Movement has reiterated its call to stop the reclamation projects in Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City.

In a unified call, the group also wants the permits and clearances for this project revoked.

The project is expected to cover 3,041.65 hectares of the municipal waters in Lapu-Lapu City.

“Reclamation is a direct infringement on the rights of the people to access food, it’s a directed violation because it takes away the homes of the fishes from where the locals get their food,” said Kabataan Party-list Representative Paolo Echavez.

“Mas dako ang kadaot sa kinaiyahan sa katawhan kesa sa mahimong benefit ana sa reclamation,” said Jiovanni Polestico, representative from PANGISDA-Pilipinas.

He is reacting on the promises of the reclamation projects that could potentially give jobs and other opportunities and addressed concern of the said reclamation wherein the public was the one who are really affected specifically the Cebuano fisherfolks.

The Save Cebu Movement has addressed danger to public safety and food security especially in this time of climate emergency and climate crisis.

They call the help of the five agencies including the local government unit (LGU), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

Despite these legal mandates by virtue of Presidential Directive 2022-016 dated April 12, 2022, underscoring the importance of stopping these unwarranted reclamation projects in the country, questionable compliance of the consultation process, and strong stakeholder opposition, permits were still issued.

Moreover, the group added that the government must validate results and ensure the substantive and procedural due process, serious lapses and lack of participatory consultation. — Charisa Sevilleno and Esraelita Inosario, BIPSU Interns/GMR