IN laying the groundwork for Cagayan de Oro City’s reclamation bid, both City Hall and Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) officials cited the project’s impact on the environment and the fisherfolk community as priority concerns.
“(Getting the PRA on board) is a good first step for the city (in pursuing its reclamation bid). We cannot afford to make mistakes, it won’t be easy. We have challenges confronting us later on if we will proceed with the project. I think the most important issue here will be the environment and of course, the fisherfolk who will be affected (by the reclamation),” Councilor Edgar Cabanlas said Tuesday.
Cabanlas, who co-chairs the recently created City Reclamation Authority along with Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy, raised these points during City Hall’s consultation meeting with PRA officials on the city’s reclamation bid held Tuesday morning in one of the city’s hotels.
PRA General Manager Janilo Rubiato agreed, saying that both environmental impact and fisherfolk welfare are ‘intangibles’ that must be addressed.
“The city should also ensure that water outflow (from outlying areas) should not be disrupted (by the reclamation project),” Rubiato said.
For his part, PRA asst. General Manager Joseph John Latiral urged City Hall officials to use ‘marine sand’ rather than mountain soil to shore up the land area that will be reclaimed along the coastal highway being built by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“On one hand, we should address the concerns on the environment and the fisherfolk to be affected by the project…on the other hand, we should also see how the reclamation project will generate employment and economic activities for the city,” Rubiato said.
Cabanlas said while it won’t be a ‘total solution’ to the city’s problems, the reclamation project can help elevate the living standards of the people of Cagayan de Oro.
City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) chief Ramil Balquin said City Hall had long been interested in pursuing a reclamation project along the city’s coastal areas ‘for optimum’ economic and environmental use.
“Cagayan de Oro City is targeted by the national government under the Philippine Development Plan to become the fourth metropolitan area after Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao,” Balquin said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
