Reclamation can destroy beaches

CEBU, Philippines - Aside from environment and livelihood issues, tourism is another concern raised in the debate on the controversial Cordova Reclamation Project.

Former Tourism Undersecretary Phineas Alburo raised this concern during the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza yesterday.

Alburo pointed out a case of a resort in northern Cebu some years back wherein its waters became murky because of crashed limestone from a reclamation project near it.

“It killed the coral reefs, the fish population, the seaweeds, sea plants and their guests started checking out and no guests came in later,” Alburo said.

Alburo said that Cebu is well-known for its beaches and pristine waters and once this is lost, everything will be lost.

He explained that the proposed reclamation project in Cordova will not only be confined to the area but will reach the eastern side of Mactan Island where most of the resorts are located. This is because the movement of tides cannot be controlled.

“I am just saying this because for me it’s a concerned of the tourism in Cebu,” Alburo said.

Around 60 percent of tourist arrivals in Cebu stay in Mactan Island because of the resort areas, Alburo said.

The proposed reclamation project is part of a 10-hectare roll on/roll off (Ro-Ro) seaport, a 48-hectare golf course, a mini-Boracay and a new 120-hectare international airport in Cordova.

In the case of northern Cebu, Alburo said the fisherfolks and resort raised the concern to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and to the local government of Sogod but nothing reportedly happened.

This prompted them to seek legal intervention and it was the court that ordered to stop the reclamation project and for the stakeholders to get the advice of experts on how to bring life back to the sea.

Because of its small size, the area was able to recover.

However, resorts in Mactan might not be this fortunate if indeed it will be affected by the proposed reclamation project. It will reportedly take years before it can recover and, by then, tourists would have been gone.

The proposed reclamation is a joint project of the Province of Cebu and the Municipality of Cordova. The project is stalled due to opposition from fisherfolk and environmentalists. —(FREEMAN)