Monday, December 03, 2007 Developer 'polluting' Lapu-Lapu waters: council
A HOUSING project in Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City is allegedly polluting the seawaters and depriving local fishermen and picnic goers of access to the three-meter salvage zone from the shoreline by its constructed cape and drainage.
The City Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council (CFARMC) submitted an investigation report to Mayor Arturo Radaza on the adverse effect of the development to the environment stating that what used to be the crystal clear waters surrounding the bay’s cape is now turbid.
Both the cape and its four foot-wide drainage blocked people from going to the salvage zone.
Aquatic pollution
“This drainage definitely poses as aquatic pollution threat to our municipal waters and particularly the underwater tourism of the City,” said Pepe Berido, head of CFARMC, in his report.
The complaint also drew a reaction from the City Council, which had organized a committee with minority Councilor Efren Herrera as chairman to conduct a separate investigation.
No timetable
Vice Mayor Mario Amores said there is no timetable given to Herrera and his team when to submit a report and a recommendation, but their inspection of the project should begin next week so “we can act immediately.”
It is feared that the pollution could become worse once the subdivision is done and the lot owners began living in the place because it is unavoidable that the level of chemical pollution will rise because people will just dump their waste through the drainage.
“Per plan, there is no access provided by the developer to the City’s public land and to the salvage zone at the cape. The most affected here are our constituent fisherfolk and picnic goers,” Berido’s report read. (AIV)
