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Fisherfolk and environmentalists oppose an P80-million township by Premium Lands Company, fearing it should devastate their properties, livelihood, and native biodiversity
ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Some 500 residents in Barangay Naungan, Ormoc Metropolis, worry they are going to be pressured to desert their properties and livelihoods because of an P80 million ecopark and township mission by Premium Lands Company.
Residents of Barangay Naungan and close by communities, together with native environmentalists, are actively opposing the mission. “They instructed us we will probably be relocated. A few of us have been, however many went again. It grew to become not possible for us to fish when the mission made the ocean off-limits,” mentioned Nora Batucan, a 31-year-old fish vendor.
Gemile Manatad, a 51-year-old mom of eight, expressed her considerations, “We don’t earn a lot however we’ve a cheerful life right here with our households. We would like growth, however not on the expense of our households and survival.”
Jean Justimbaste, program coordinator of Pagtinabangay Basis, emphasised the mission’s potential influence on meals safety.
“The mission threatens not solely the livelihood of 500 fishing households but in addition the town’s meals safety. It’s going to severely influence the marine biodiversity of Barangay Naungan and different close by communities,” Justimbaste mentioned.
Premium Land’s promise
“Ormoc Megacity, an eco-tourism township, exemplifies growth with out jeopardizing the ecosystem and the prevailing species whereas offering job potentialities. It’s in line with the town’s objectives and Sustainable Improvement Targets,” Premium Lands Company mentioned in its web site.
Premium Lands has promised financial growth and jobs for residents. Nonetheless, environmentalists warn that these reclamation tasks threaten marine biodiversity, migratory hen populations, and coastal communities.
Stories concerning the deliberate Mega Metropolis Challenge by Premium Lands have been circulating locally since final yr.
Yoyoy Cala, an area environmentalist and founding member of Save Ormoc Bay Aggrupation (SOBA), questioned the legality of the mission. “The general public has the proper to know if the mangrove forest is already disposable and alienable and if the Complete Land Use Program (CLUP) of Ormoc is accepted,” Cala mentioned.
Cala alleged that he was barred from talking in the course of the public scoping assembly on Might 9, 2024.
“The mangrove forest in Naungan is a protected space beneath a Neighborhood-Based mostly Forestry Administration Settlement with the fisherfolk group. The town authorities and Premium Lands Company don’t have any enterprise in that space,” Cala mentioned.
Cala additional claimed that Premium Lands has falsely said that the mission has secured an Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC), which was debunked by the DENR Regional Workplace 8.
Rappler sought feedback from Ormoc Metropolis Mayor Lucy Gomez and the proprietor of Premium Lands Company, however each have been unavailable. Ormoc Metropolis Vice Mayor Leo Carmelo Locsin, Jr. additionally declined to remark, citing ongoing authorized proceedings associated to the Mega Metropolis Challenge.
Mangrove forest
Barangay Naungan is positioned alongside the sting of a 935-hectare mangrove forest, dwelling to the ‘Miapi’ mangrove, which serves as a pure wave barrier and shelter for fish.
The forest, managed by the Naungan Mangrove Planters Affiliation, is essential for the village’s fishing actions, offering crabs, shrimps, and numerous fish that assist the native economic system.
“We labored onerous to nurture these mangroves. They’re our pure barrier towards robust waves and floods, particularly throughout typhoons,” mentioned Victoriana Entero, president of the Naungan Mangrove Planters Affiliation. – Rappler.com
