Protecting Bohol for the next generations

Esther Gertrude Biliran receives her award during the PDI Women of Power awarding ceremony, which recognizes their accomplishments and huge contributions to society, held at the SEDA Hotel in BGC on March 11, 2024. EUGENE ARANETA.

TAGBILARAN CITY — She grew up near Tagbilaran Bay, a shallow channel that separates Bohol’s capital city from Panglao Island.

This is why lawyer Esther Gertrude Biliran has taken it upon herself to protect the bay from threats of reclamation.

As a founding member of Bohol’s environment watchdog Tagbilaran Baywatch, Biliran has become a prominent voice in the campaign against reclamation projects as well as the need to preserve Bohol’s natural wonders.

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Biliran is the seventh of the 11 children of lawyer Elpidio Biliran, a composer and law dean emeritus of Divine Word College of Tagbilaran (now Holy Name University), and Angelita Dompor.

After passing the bar in 1992, Biliran, the lone passer from Bohol, went into private practice until she was introduced to alternative law in Makati City, focusing more on social justice, environmental protection and human rights.

Perfect timing

She returned to Bohol in 1998 and established her law office in Tagbilaran.

She then volunteered for the Environmental Legal Assistance Center (Elac) Inc.-Bohol, an environmental nongovernmental organization committed to helping communities uphold their constitutional rights to a healthful and balanced ecology.

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The timing was just perfect as it was about this time in 1998 when the then-Tagbilaran mayor, Jose Torralba, announced plans to reclaim Tagbilaran Bay.

Biliran mobilized residents, church leaders and other groups to join in the protest actions against reclamation activities. Eventually, the city government was forced to shelve the project.

For many years, Biliran has been conducting seminars on environment protection and climate change while with Elac.

Her cause extends beyond the environment. She is also doing litigation work involving women and children.

Biliran says she has had her own dose of death threats—some mailed to her, while one was left at her gate—for defending women and children from abuse.

Reclaim Tagbilaran Bay

Last year, Biliran was thrust again into the limelight when plans to reclaim Tagbilaran Bay were revived 25 years after they had been shelved.

The Tagbilaran Waterfront Development Corp. proposed to reclaim 153 hectares along the narrow strait between Panglao Island and Tagbilaran City. It would cover at least six barangays—Mansasa, Poblacion I, Poblacion II, Cogon, Booy and a portion of Taloto.

Biliran and Tagbilaran Baywatch fought against the proposed reclamation project, which threatened to wipe out the marine biodiversity in the area. The project, they pointed out, was unnecessary and destructive and would run against the declaration of Bohol by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a global geopark.

The city government of Tagbilaran, through Mayor Jane Yap, eventually scrapped the proposed reclamation project.

Atty. Esther Gertrude Biliran receives the award during the 2nd PDI Women of Power Awards at the Seda Hotel In Bobifacio Global City on Monday, March 12, 2024. INQUIRER/GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Fight goes on

Despite their victory over the project, Biliran and her group have continued with their education campaign on the harmful effects of reclamation through in-person and online seminars.

According to Biliran, Tagbilaran Baywatch will also be doing policy advocacy not only on the reclamation issue but also on other environmental issues affecting the province since Boholanos are facing multiple environmental threats, such as the illegal cutting of trees either with the permission or tolerance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

She laments the apparent apathy and lack of knowledge of government officials on environmental protection and climate change.

An example she cites is the controversial Captain’s Peak Garden and Resort, which was allowed to build structures, including a swimming pool, cottages and slides, at the foot of Chocolate Hills by the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB).

The policy of the DENR-PAMB allowing a portion of the Chocolate Hills to be developed runs counter to Presidential Proclamation No. 1037, which declares the Chocolate Hills as a protected area, says Biliran.

Giving back

If she had her way, she adds, the structures would not only be removed but officials who allowed the construction should also be replaced and administratively charged.

Biliran laments that the DENR has become a “permit mill” for developers with destructive projects instead of being an agency actively protecting the environment.

Biliran notes that Boholanos’ awareness when it comes to environmental protection remains low due to a lack of information campaigns from the DENR.

“The leaders are also uninformed, and many are belligerent to our advocacy,” she says, although lately, her group has noticed that local governments have been asking for Tagbilaran Baywatch’s involvement in reviewing or crafting their laws.

Biliran doesn’t get any financial compensation as an environment crusader.

“I get nothing but the fulfillment of being able to help protect the environment in my own small way, and being able to pass the torch to young people who will take on our task when we are gone,” she says. “I would like to be remembered as a fighter for the environment, women and children.” INQ