The Diocese of Dumaguete headed by Bishop Julito B. Cortes is against the planned massive reclamation along the coastline here, joining throngs of people who are now seeking a halt of the PHP23.35-billion project.
A letter dated July 12, 2021 and released to the media on Tuesday showed that key diocese officials expressed their opposition to architect Celerino S. Cuerpo of the EM Cuerpo, Inc., the identified investor for the so-called Smart City reclamation project.
“While we acknowledge the intention of the local government of Dumaguete City to promote economic, social, and political development, we strongly believe that massive projects like the one stated above (Smart City) must also consider the scientific and environmental implications, not to mention its impacts on cultural and moral life of the people in the local community,” the letter, signed by key church officials, read.
The signatories are hoping for a public forum to tackle concerns regarding the planned project and where concerned people and institutions could participate in the discussion “to promote transparency and dialogue”.
The planned “Smart City” reclamation covers the coastline from Barangay Tinago to Barangay Banilad in the south, and Barangay Piapi to Barangay Bantayan in the north, a project brief initially showed.
The diocese, in the same letter, also informed Cuerpo of a forum that it initiated last March 24 on another reclamation extension project at the Rizal Boulevard here, which was attended by environmental scientists, city officials, leaders of church organizations, the academe, government agencies, non-government organizations, and the clergy, among others.
The diocesan officials noted that in the said forum, “invited scientists pointed out the overwhelming environmental threats and damages which the reclamation may cause particularly to the diverse marine life as well as to the local communities in Dumaguete”.
“This goes without saying that the technical processes involved have been found wanting (public disclosure and consultation, feasibility study, hydrodynamic study, environmental impact assessment, environmental compliance certificate, and others) in as far as environmental public interests are concerned,” they said in the letter.
Those who signed the letter apart from the bishop were Msgr. Glenn Corsiga, Vicar General, Fr. Gonzalo Omison, Jr., chancellor, and Msgr. Roberto Bongoyan, episcopal vicar of the Dumaguete parishes.
Source: Philippines News Agency
