DOT ok’s P70 M Alona
beachfront rehab plan

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Dec 9 (PIA) –The Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco has approved in principle the P70 million Alona beachfront rehabilitation program that runs roughly through the 700 meters of beach that has seen erosion and loss of sand in the last decade.

Sec Frasco, who inspected the beach front in her latest visit to Bohol also noted that the project would be proposed to be funded via a public-private sector partnership, would have to be done in batches, considering that the entire beachfront would not be closed when the rehabilitation works would commence.

The secretary, who was a multi-awarded local chief executive before she was appointed to the cabinet post, also instructed local officials and project proponents to make sure everything is in accordance with the environment laws and with the expressed approval by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

It may be recalled that the Alona beach front came into controversy when environmentalists pointed out blatant violations and legal infractions by the beachfront establishment owners, which degraded the pristine condition of the white stretch of beach.

Aside from issues of violations of the public access to the sea, problems on wastewater treatment as well as construction of barriers within the 20 meter public access has accelerated the washing out of the sand from the beachfront and expanding the seawater reach closer to the built-up areas.

During the visit, the local government unit of Panglao led by Mayor Edgardo Arcay, Vice Mayor Noel Hormachuelos and private sector consultants: Architect Socrates Fucanan and Uco Trotin presented to the secretary the P70 million rehabilitation plan for the beachfront.

Years ago, divers along the beach front dive sites attest that the wall that drops from the beachfront falls to 30 meters before leveling off again towards the sea. Now, the fall is 22 meters, Trotin, whose family runs the pioneering Bohol Divers Resort in Panglao said.

He added that they collected samples of the sand on the beach front and from the cliff bottom and noted these were of the same character.

Now, we have reasons to believe that the waves washing the beach front could not retain the sand, for whatever reasons, these have been pushed off the beachfront to the cliff, accounting for the 8 meters of sand buildup, Trotin added.

The plan, although yet unconfirmed yet, is to destroy all the manmade barriers built on the beach front to allow the waves to gently deposit the sand back on the beach.

For the sand now resting at the bottom of the cliff, these would be siphoned back and deposited on the beach front, as these have no capacity anymore to climb up the cliff.

By this, the stretch from the cliffs edge to the beachfront establishments could be expanded by the deposited sand and aided by the newly siphoned sand.

This could be a win-win solution, shares Archt. Fucanan, who is among Panglao’s beachfront rehab consultants.

On the same plan, Fucanan said that they have identified the Alone Kew access area to be a priority in the rehabilitation as it is the main access and should be a decent public area, proposing that the first part of the project would look at the rehabilitation of this area.

And because of the public access and that most of the guests use that access at Alona Kew, beach community establishment owners have offered their help in bankrolling the project.

On this, and out of professional courtesy, Sec. Frasco told that LGU that she would also meet with the environment secretary about the plan, and by this, she could also solicit her help for the national government to fund the rehabilitation plan. (PIA-7/Bohol)

WALK THE TALK. DOT Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco accompanies local officials and Alona Beachfront rehabilitation team in surveying the proposed areas for the rehab program. Flanking her is Panglao Vice Mayor Noel Hormachuelos and beachfront rehab consultant Architect Socrates Fucanan. Also in the survey were Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, DENR Bohol Officer Ariel Rica, DPWH engineer John Paul Gascon Cruz and DOT officials. The DOT has made sure that tourism destinations are sustainably maintained and respects the environment. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

CONSULTING. DOT Secretary Christina Frasco listens to Uco Trotin, Alona beach front rehabilitation consultant on the ambitious plan to restore the majesty of the Alona beachfront as Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado, DOT Usec Shalimar Hofer Tamano, PENRO Ariel Rica and Administrator Asteria Caberte listen to the plan. Frasco wants to be assured that the rehab would be respective of the environment in line with DOTs thrust of sustainable tourism anchored on the environment. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)