Bohol reclamation projects hit

MANILA, Philippines - Groups opposed to reclamation projects on Panglao Island in Bohol have urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to investigate the impact of ecotourism-driven projects to marine resources in Bohol and Visayan waters.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), along with the Anakpawis party-list group, the Defend Panglao Movement and groups of small fisherfolk and residents, asked DENR Secretary Ramon Paje to conduct his own investigation into the negative impact of reclamation projects which allegedly pose extreme danger to the Bohol Marine Triangle.

The Bohol Marine Triangle is a protected area consisting of 112,000 hectares covering the island municipalities of Baclayon, Dauis and Panglao.

Citing a report prepared by the Center for Environmental Concerns, Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap informed Paje that the Panglao reclamation projects expose to extreme danger 11 of 22 species of marine mammals, three of eight sea turtles, and rare and endangered species of pelagic fish like whales and sharks, mantas and stingrays, sea horses and giant clams, rare shells such as Conus gloriamaris, Cypraea gutta and Cypraea valentia, and several migratory birds.

Hicap said the ecotourism-induced reclamation projects in Panglao and nearby island municipalities may also destroy 30 species of mangrove forests found in the target areas, including nine species of seagrass, 131 species of algae and the newly discovered 6,000 species of mollusks, and 2,500 new species of crustaceans.

“The situation merits the outright junking of the Panglao reclamation projects. Malacañang should not give its seal of approval to a development project that promotes the grandmother of all environmental destruction in Central Visayas,” Hicap said.

To accommodate the increasing tourist arrivals, Bohol reportedly has to increase its capacity by enhancing and opening tourism sites.

The government’s proposed resolution is the construction of the Panglao Oasis Islands composed of man-made reclaimed foreshore areas.

The provincial government has entered into a joint development venture agreement with Oasis Leisure Island Development Inc. to establish the Panglao Oasis Islands, which will allow the developer to reclaim 450 hectares southwest of Panglao.

Another 220 hectares will be reclaimed by the Panglao municipal government together with the Waterfront Land Developers Group.

Pamalakaya said the reclamation projects in Panglao and nearby island municipalities will have negative impact on the current status of coral reefs (554 hectares), mangrove areas (252 hectares), seagrass (2,555 hectares), and Sargassum (408 hectares).

These fishery resources serve as settlements, nurseries, food baskets and spawning grounds of all fish species found in Panglao and the Bohol Marine Triangle, it said.

Pamalakaya said the richness of the Bohol Marine Triangle has supported the livelihood of 49,500 people or 9,500 households in Panglao and nearby island municipalities.

Pamalakaya noted that 78.5 percent of the local population who are fisherfolk have benefited from the marine triangle’s resources, earning a monthly income of P4,190 from direct fishing and P2,418 from other occupations.

Meanwhile, the group said gleaners (17.1 percent of the marine triangle’s users) earned a monthly income of P1,217 from fishing and P2,623 from other occupations.

Seaweed farmers, on the other hand, earned P6,014 from seaweed farming and an additional P2,974 from other occupations, it added.