‘Island type’ reclamation eyed along Oro coastal road

AN ‘island type’ reclamation along the realigned portion of the ongoing coastal road project that won’t touch any coral reefs is being proposed by the City Reclamation Authority, an administration official said today.

“There are factors to consider (in the city’s reclamation). For example, the environment (and the) rights of fisherfolk. That’s why we have to solve (their concerns)…that’s why the proposal of the board (City Reclamation Authority) is not total reclamation but island type. So that if there are coral reefs (in one particular area), it won’t be touched (we just build around it),” Councilor Edgar Cabanlas said.

Cabanlas, who guested during the ‘Ang Inyong Konseho Karon’ program hosted by the City Information Office, said the ‘island type’ reclamation setup will allow the fisherfolk to continue with their livelihood while minimizing the impact of the reclamation on the marine environment.

“If there are coral reefs involved, that’s a no-no (for the reclamation),” he said.

Cabanlas, who co-chairs the reclamation board with Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy, said the island-type reclamation to be pursued at the proposed realignment along the ongoing coastal road project, will be similar to the proposed 700-hectare reclamation project that will cover Barangays Bulua to Iponan.

“There’s a proponent (for this project as well),” Cabanlas said.

The reclamation board recently secured a commitment from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-10) regional office for a technical study on their proposed realignment along the coastal road that will cover an initial 20 hectares stretching from Barangays Gusa to Cugman.

Cabanlas said these ‘island type’ reclaimed areas along the coastal highway will be beachfront properties.

“There will be a sizable area (in the reclaimed site) that will be reserved as a forest area (for the city) where we can build parks and boulevards,” he said in reference to a Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) requirement mandating the allocation of 30 percent of the total reclaimed land for roads and open spaces.

Cabanlas said the real estate taxes to be generated from the proposed reclamation alone would be substantial.

In pursuing the reclamation project along the coastal highway, Cabanlas said they will be guided by the PRA along with what they learned from their benchmarking activity on Cebu City’s South Road Properties.

“They will guide us on the requirements and on the legalities as well as the positive and negative effects of reclamation. (We want to do this right),” he said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)