Cordova reclamation unwise, climate commission warns

The ongoing reclamation project in Cordova town may end up a poor investment for its planners due to the global warming phenomenon, a member  of the Climate Change Commission said yesterday.

Undersecretary Naderev Sano, CCC commissioner, said the absence of mangrove trees will expose the reclaimed area to flooding caused by the rise in sea level.

Sano visited San Francisco town in  Camotes Island for updates on a joint campaign to plant two million trees in the area.

The San Francisco municipal government earned global acclaim for their disaster-risk preparation campaign.

When asked whether they will conduct their own feasibility study on the Cordova reclamation project, Sano said they will do so only if invited by  stakeholders in the community.

He said they could present their opinion on the matter and its viability in the context of  the National Climate Change Action Plan.

“If asked, the commission can review and monitor the project in relation to climate change,” Sano said.

The commissioner said  local governments should prioritize the protection of their natural resources, including mangrove and coastal areas which protect coastal communities from storm surges and typhoons.

“There should be a careful consideration of the cost-benefit ratio of the project and incorporate environment and social concerns and not just economic interest,” he said.

Sano said the country needs to protect its natural capital to enable them to cope with climate change.

Earlier, an environmental impact statement (EIA) was obtained by ecology groups for a 48 hectare reclamation project in Lava Island, near barangay Poblacion.

The project is adjacent to a 10-hectare roll-on, roll-off port project that forms part of the Cordova reclamation pursued by the Capitol.

Gloria Estenzo Ramos of the Philippine Earth Justice Center (PEJC) said if the other reclamation project pushes through, it will damage  the marine ecosystem in the area.

“We will hold DENR liable for not stopping the ongoing construction as clearly the proponent, a municipality, has no authority to undertake the same. It is ultra vires and beyond its authority,” Ramos said.

A 120-hectare “mini-Boracay” with a man-made beach is indicated in a project map  headed by the Capitol.

Fisherfolk complained that access to the sea will be blocked, forcing them to dock their bancas farther away.