Philippines: Land reclamation project along the coast is opposed because of its far-reaching impact

The land reclamation project in the Central Philippines is facing strong opposition from scientists, fishermen and civil society organizations.

The project has a total value of 456 million USD, implemented on a total area of ​​174 hectares and was assigned by Dumaguete city to the contractor, construction company EM Cuerpo, Inc. (YOU C).

Experts say any economic benefits from the project will not be offset by the "serious ecological disaster" it could cause.

Marine scientist Rene Abesamis said the reclamation bid would cover 85% of the city's coastline, equivalent to the size of 4.000 basketball courts, and would sound the death knell for coastal ecosystems. local.

The community's opposition materialized in three petitions calling for the project's removal, including the collection of 20.000 electronic signatures sent to the city mayor's office. Various groups, including religious, educational, environmental organizations, and scientists, have spoken out against the project on environmental, economic, and legal grounds.

Dumaguete City Coast. Experts say the land reclamation project covering 85% of the city's coastline will be a "major ecological disaster".

“The nearshore environment is home to many fish species such as snapper, sea bream... The project faces opposition from the majority because reclamation activities can lead to the degradation and eradication of mangrove forests and carpets. seagrass, coral reefs and the local extinction of hundreds to thousands of fish and marine species in the 4 marine protected areas of Dumaguete city and along the coast of Negros Oriental province., said Annadel Cabanban and Aileen Maypa, two IUCN fish experts.

City officials assert that the project will be a boost to the economy amid the pandemic-induced recession by reducing unemployment, addressing high poverty rates in the area and that The newly planned "smart city" will have coastal wastewater treatment facilities, protect the coastline, create space for recreational activities, hospitals and city administrative centers. city. According to the draft joint venture agreement between the city and EMC, the contractor will own 51% of the recovered land 30 days after the contract is signed. In turn, the city will benefit from taxes and generation from ports and new commercial and industrial zones.

However, critics doubt EMC's financial capacity because company financial records show that EMC's net assets only reached 27,8 million USD as of December 12. More importantly, the project will cause irreparable harm to the environment, especially marine life. Dumaguete City is a coastal university town with four marine reserves and all will be severely impacted when reclamation begins.

In an open letter, former university presidents and scientists from Dumaguete-based Silliman University, one of the Philippines' leading centers for marine research, said the project will “directly destroying and literally burying some of the remaining coral reefs, seagrasses and soft sediment ecosystems.”

“Mangroves and seagrasses are both important in sequestering carbon and acting as nurseries for fish. Coral reefs provide important habitat for many commercially important fish species and add tourism value.”, said marine biologist Jean Utzurrum.

Healthy coral just off the coast of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines

Based on a combination of satellite imagery and field surveys in 2020, marine conservation organization STEWARDS estimates the reclamation project will destroy 62,5% of seagrass, equivalent to 36,15 hectares and 60,58 hectares. 36,2% of corals and coral reefs equivalent to XNUMX hectares.

This will directly impact 150 coral species; 200 species of fish, including sharks and rays; 9 species of seagrass; 20 species in mangroves, the Philippine Association of Marine Sciences (PAMS) warns.

Utzurrum said the region's fish stocks will suffer significant losses when the city's four marine reserves are removed, and this loss could lead to food insecurity. “On a broader scale, we know from scientific studies that up to 60% of Dumaguete's fish species are targeted by local fisheries, and a network of locally managed marine protected areas facilitates Beneficial for dispersing fish larvae between islands”, said Utzurrum.

In addition to destabilizing habitat and fish abundance, the project also forced the relocation of 994 fishermen in the city - whose livelihoods depend on the coastal ecosystem.

Vilio Piñero, a fisherman for 40 years, appeared in a documentary calling for the abandonment of the reclamation project. He spoke in the local dialect: “If the reclamation process happens quickly, fishermen like us will lose our source of livelihood. We will have nothing. We fishermen will die.” 

Adding to the concern is that the project could also worsen flooding in the city, according to NoTo174Dumaguete, a coalition of organizations opposing the project. The group says that building an artificial island would disrupt the “natural flow of rivers and creeks” and that the city and island's fragile stretches of coastline could become repositories for waste.

The researchers added that once the city's four marine protected areas are removed, fish stocks in the area will suffer significant damage. The loss could cause food insecurity and force 994 fishermen in the city to relocate.

One of the reasons for the outcry from organizations and the public is the project's lack of transparency and public consultation. To alleviate this inadequacy, the local government held discussions over two days, July 23 - 24. At the meeting, Mayor Remollo said he would firmly ask developers to avoid environmental destruction or minimize impact on coral reefs or apply coral replacement solutions if necessary. However, community opposition is still growing in Dumaguete.

On July 26, the City Council directed EMC to resolve environmental issues related to the project. The issue has attracted the attention of politicians. Senator Risa Hontiveros called for a Senate investigation into the "far-reaching impact of the project".

According to the Center for People and Nature