Sitoy denies making mangrove a dumpsite

Monday, February 13, 2012

CORDOVA Mayor Adelino Sitoy denied reports that a mangrove area in Sitio Camonilas, Barangay Poblacion was made as a garbage dumping site.

Sitio Camonilas is where the town’s P80-million port is situated. It also has a complementary project of reclamation, which environmentalists threatened to oppose in court.

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Sitoy brushed off the report, describing it as the imagination of people who have nothing better to do. 

He wondered why their town has been the center of attention lately.

Instead of Cordova, he said, the criticism on improper garbage disposal should be thrown against officials of Lapu-lapu City, their neighbor.

“Kita ka sa Lapu-lapu? Pagkahugaw. Babaye man unta ang mayor. (Lapu-lapu is dirty. And to think they have a female mayor),” he said in a phone interview.

Sun.Star sought Sitoy’s reaction after receiving the report. 

Last Satruday, nature conservationists issued a statement that the reclamation project will damage marine and land ecosystems.

Lawyer Benjamin Cabrido of the Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. earlier said they will file a petition for a temporary environmental protection order (Tepo) to stop the reclamation project. They will be joined by other environmental groups.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, in a separate interview in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, said the project has been issued an environmental compliance certificate by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

She refused to give further comment.

Completion of the reclamation project will be in June.