Mayor Yap shuts down

reclamation proposal

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol Nov 24 (PIA) –Mayor Jane Yap douses cold water into the heating public apprehension of a done deal which potentially ruins the city shorelines from Booy to Mansasa, while assuring the cessation of all activities relative to the controversial Tagbilaran City Waterfront Development Project.

A snowballing opposition movement of started when leaks of an unsolicited reclamation project that encompasses some 153 hectares in the foreshores of the city is set to bury shorelines from Booy District, through Cogon, Poblacion II, Poblacion 1, Mansasa and Bool, was presented to the city council.

The project called Tagbilaran City Waterfront Development, is among the project proposals submitted to the City, which promises to balloon the current P 84M city real property tax collection to an estimated P500 M annually and bloat the business tax collection from P120M to between P800 and P900 M in a year.

With the proposal and considering that Tagbilaran City is not slamming the door to hear out economic development opportunities, being the countries category 3 Most Business Friendly City, the city decided to listen to the proposal that could be an opportunity to increase local income, according to Yap.

Observers however assumed that the city has already leaned towards the multi-billion proposal that also promises to heap up revenues for hospitalization, housing, scholarships, infrastructures, social benefits and job opportunities to an estimated P57,000 residents.

In a prèss conference held at Café Dolores of the Bohol Tropics Resort, Yap also admitted that the city was only following the City Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Ordinance and the Philippine Reclamation Authority’s (PRA) guidelines, of which, the matter of presenting the project for public consultation is done towards the end of the 30-step process for compliance.

Even then, with a snowballing strong opposition building among city and non-residents who feel they ought to be consulted, the City Government went on to set up public hearings, even if the process does not mention public consultations at the early phases of the project.

Vendors and users of Cainget beach, led by Booy Parish priest Ekon Supremo dramatized its opposition to the project by celebrating a mass at the beach front, while supporters signed a manifesto opposing the proposal that would deny access to the gleaning waters for kuja, Cainget’s most famous kinilaw.

“We know that the city could gain so much about the project, but we have to see the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) first to determine the environmental effects of the project,” the mayor said.

In Philippine reclamation projects, the PRA consults with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Finance (DOF) and coordinates with local government agencies and units or private entities, to start possible joint venture projects, or with LGUs through a PPP Joint venture or with special purpose corporations.

In Tagbilaran City, the project proponent, comprised of leading city businessmen however, has not presented the EIS yet, as the PPP ordinance does not require it, this early.

With the outright cessation of all activities, the city mayor also asks the Sangguniang Panglunsod to amend and update the city’s PPP Ordinance for new developments within the city.

The mayor wants to put in the Public Consultation component in the earliest stages of the project as a way to allow residents to consider the environmental impacts of any economic policies and programs, as a way to protect the city’s rich natural resources for future generations.

“My priority will always be our people and our natural environment. The City Government of Tagbilaran will always listen to the voice of the people through its consultative and participative governance processes, the first woman mayor of Tagbilaran assured.

As one of the fastest developing local government units in the Philippines, we will always refer to our advocacy of balancing economic progress with environmental protection in making any executive decision, she added. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT. Citing Bishop Alberto Uy’s statement, City Mayor Jane Yap said it is her duty to uphold and nurture the integrity of the environment through preservation and protection in balancing economic progress. She shut down the unsolicited proposal to reclaim 158 hectares of city shores and asks the SP to amend the PPP Ordinance to make public consultation among the initial steps in evaluating development projects. (PIABohol)

IN THE CLUP. With a reclamation of the city shores among the approved plans during the 2018 CLUP, an amendment may also be necessary to make sure that no other reclamation proposals are brought in again, hints city Councilor chair for Housing and Urban Development lawyer Nerio Zamora III, during a recent press conference. (PIABohol)