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Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Commentary: Post-tsunami
By Ted Aldwin Ong
Commentary
As a country within the Pacific Ring of Fire and with people living along the coastlines, the Philippines, is likely to experience natural calamities of the enormity of the recent tsunami that hit South Asia. Thus, it is time to re-assess environmental laws governing coastal boundaries and limits.
The Philippines has its share of paradise that can parallel the white sand beaches of our neighbors, but unlike them, we have not maximized this rich natural resource. To make it worse, our beaches are suffering from continued degradation because of neglect, poor enforcement of our environmental laws, and pollution.
According to environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa, "their coastlines are only a fraction of what is possessed by the Philippines." With our 18,000 kilometers of coastlines, "we have it all--white sand beaches, limestone cliffs, pebble beaches, tiny coves--and what have we done?"
Like many of our neighbors, we sell it to "private individuals to appropriate the beaches for themselves to the exclusion of the public.” At the height of the tsunami disaster, European nationals were a clear majority in the vacation centers of Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
Our beaches are a natural gift not enjoyed by many people. This is why we Filipinos are considered a people of the sea because of our proximity to beaches.
We don't need to travel far to enjoy the bounty of the sea yet it dies each day out of neglect. Local government units have not ensured the strict implementation of environmental laws especially on easements zones of recreation. Permanent structures continue to mushroom in our shorelines and sometimes right in the water itself.
There are good lessons to learn from the tsunami disaster.
First, our local government units should stop issuing building permits for structures along our coastlines defined for nautical and recreational purposes. Second, they should enforce the laws for those who continue to violate our easement zoning ordinances. Third, reclaim properties illegally acquired and found in violation of our environmental laws.
If we turn blind on this, it will take a tsunami to clear the areas purposely designated for the sea.
(Sun.Star Iloilo)
(January 19, 2005 issue)
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