Oppositors’ “hidden agendaâ€
to reclamation project bared
NOW it can be told. The opposition group, calling themselves Panglao Against Reclamation (PARE) led by former mayor Dr. Doloreich Dumaluan, has other things in mind on the proposed 450-hectare offshore reclamation project in Panglao Bay.
“Why let others do the project, instead of Panglaonons?†This was how Dumaluan posed the question as recounted by Lolong Andoy, a former aide of Dumaluan, which he revealed last week over a radio program.
Andoy said that the former mayor uttered this plan during a gathering last year. He added that Dumaluan seemed to be ready for the project as the former mayor recently acquired a fleet of heavy equipment.
It was not known why Andoy squealed this (hidden agenda) considering his ties of former mayor Dumaluan.
In a phone interview yesterday afternoon, Dumaluan bluntly denied Andoy’s allegation. He said he cannot claim to be pro-environment and at the same time favoring the reclamation project.
In a separate interview with offshore reclamation project proponent Norris Oculam of Oasis Leisure Islands Development Inc. (OLIDI), he said Dumaluan is “not anti-reclamationâ€.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution authorizing Gov. Erico Aumentado to enter into a joint venture and development agreement (JDVA) with OLIDI in behalf of the provincial government.
The resolution requires that Bohol’s environmental policy should be the guiding principle in pursuing the project, including the province’s commitment to growth and conservation of its natural resources and compliance with the relevant environmental regulations and other legal pre-requisites.
But provincial administrator Atty. Handel Lagunay said that the agreement has yet to be signed by the governor.
Likewise, the governor said in his letter-endorsement to the SP that “no reclamation activity will be commenced unless appropriate social preparation activities among the stakeholders and affected persons shall have been conducted.’
The governor also pointed out that the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be adhered and Environmental Clearance Commitment or Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Oculam said that despite the fact that Gov. Erico Aumentado has been given the green light to sign the proposed JVDA, his group did not make a follow-up considering the JVDA is already in the governor’s office just so his group “will not be accused of railroading the deal.â€
OLIDI instead initiated the conduct of public consultations in the barangays of Doljo, Poblacion and Danao, Panglao, which are within proximity of the project site.
He said that his group has uncovered attempts of the oppositors to “misinform†and “mislead†the barangay residents of the true picture. PARE, according to Oculam, presented another concept of the project, which is a reclamation adjoining the shoreline from the tip of barangay Doljo to barangay Danao, Panglao. (RVO)
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