The airport and the sea
In Bohol the other day, November 27th, two important events took place, one about an airport and one about the seas.
After initial protest about the impact of the airport on local biodiversity, after several delays in its completion, finally, yesterday, three days before the end of November and before Andres Bonifacio Day, the Panglao International Airport was inaugurated. Expectations are high that economic development will follow, with the arrival of more tourists. In 2017, about 1.1 million visitors visited Bohol, about 2/3 local visitors and a third, foreigners.
The opening of this new international airport, which is approximately 40 minutes from Tagbilaran City, the site of the former local airport, is also expected to attract more investments and more jobs.
Beyond the expected economic gains, Boholanos should monitor that the new airport does not result in an overdeveloped area like Panglao, does not destroy Panglao’s natural environment, does not create an enclave for the foreigners and the rich, to the exclusion of our people, especially those from Panglao.
Tourism, while expected to bring in more money to the economy, also brings along the predators of our young and innocent. In the past, Bohol used to be known as the island without any prostitution. Efforts should be made to protect our innocent, our people, and our nature from the adverse impacts of tourism noted elsewhere in tourist spots locally and elsewhere in the world.
Earlier that November 27th afternoon, back in Tagbilaran, and starting hours earlier than the inauguration of the Panglao International Airport, a very productive symposium on the theme: “Exploring the Seas, Exploring Opportunities” was held at the Holy Name University (HNU).
The event was made possible with the partnership of Holy Name University’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, together with co-hosts RCE-Cebu (Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development, Cebu) and PHILAJAMES-Cebu ( Philippine Association of Japanese Ministry of Education Scholars in Cebu).
Thank you Fr. Francisco Estepa, Fr. Loreto Estomo Jr. and Bro.Carl Milos Bulilan and all others at HNU!
Participants were mostly students and teachers from the following schools, Holy Name University, College of the Holy Spirit, Dr. Cecilio Putong National High School, Tagbilaran City Science High School, among others.
Prof. Charina Narido, Phd. introduced the audience to her study of the morphology and DNA of scads (locally known as burot-burot). She mentioned that six out of 10 scad species have been identified in the Philippines. Prof. Cha shared that scads are economically important but overfished by commercial fishers.
Dr. Laurice Jamero, who had just graduated from the University of Tokyo, discussed about the Adaptation of Small Islands to Sea Level Rise. The video she shared- Racing the King Tide-, her other visuals as well as her research data elicited strong response from the audience who were eager to do something to help the people of Tubigon’s Ubay and Batasan. Check out that video in youtube at this site:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwaS9hlNv5M
For 30 percent of the year, the people in these island experience flood. Imagine, playing basketball in a flooded area or being in flooded classrooms. As waste management is ineffective in the area, imagine what the people are exposed to when the floods come- usually when the moon is new or full. Safe water is problematic, the residents’ health compromised, their present and their future seriously threatened. Big ships and fast crafts that pass through these islands bring the floods as well.
The residents of these Tubigon sea communities urgently need immediate help and assistance!
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