Seminars on the social costs of coastal reclamation were held last November 2022 with the women’s organizations.
On November 29, 2022 in the seminar for the Calajoan Women’s Organization, Atty. Kristine Joy Argallon of the Philippine Earth Justice Center discussed about the different approved reclamations in Cebu including the Mactan North Reclamation and Development Project in Lapu-lapu City, the Lapu-lapu City Reclamation Project, Consolaction Seafront Development Corporation, Cordova Reclamation Project, and the Minglanilla Reclamation Project.
She also discussed about the effects of reclamation, including the following, namely, irreversible damage to marine biodiversity, loss of livelihood of fisherfolks who rely on the sea for their sustenance, demolition of houses in coastal areas, and destruction of mountains to get the gravel and sand to complete the reclamation projects.
She was followed by Dacel Ordaniza, President of the Seawall Homeowners’ Association in Sitio Tabuan, Calajoan, who also said that she was red-tagged for being very vocal regarding their opposition to the reclamation and was asked by certain government authorities to become silent. She also reported that she led the petition signing of more than 500 residents of Minglanilla addressed to Minglanilla Mayor Rajiv V. Enad, which was sent to his office on August 2, 2022, which questioned the mayor, among others, if he had issued a certification that all requirements were complied with by the reclamation project proponent, and if he has a plan for those fisherfolk whose livelihood will be displaced by this project. She said there was no reply from the mayor yet.
Another seminar was held with the Tungkop Women’s Organization on September 17, 2022 and with the Sitio Lawis Women’s Organization in South Poblacion, San Fernando on September 11, 2022 with Michael dela Pena from the Cebu Alliance against Reclamation for Life and Environment as the resource person.
During the seminars, the participants said that the Minglanilla Reclamation Project has not started yet. They hoped that this would not push through anymore since they feared that they may lose their income as fishermen and their houses located in the affected coastal areas. Nevertheless, if it pushes through, they will definitely collectively work together that they will be free from the adverse effects the reclamation may cause them.
