ILOILO City Administrator Hernando Galvez said that the Iloilo Esplanade project needs “restoration” and not a “reclamation permit.”
“It is not accurate to say that we really need a reclamation permit,” he said in interview on August 15.
Previously, Engr. Jose Al Fruto, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Western Visayas assistant director, said that they will apply for a reclamation permit to “legitimize” the public use of the project. It will be submitted to the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
The whole project and flood control project are covered in the permit.
Galvez said that they only needed to “restore the remaining part of the land.”
“The project is in accordance to the cadastral survey conducted by the DENR (Department of the Environment and Natural Resources Region-Western Visayas),” he added.
In connection, the Iloilo Batiano River Development Council (IBRDC) passed a resolution requesting the PRA to be a member of their council.
Galvez said that with such action, the PRA can help with the restoration of the environment if they will perform their duties and obligations.
He believes that the non-compliance of PRA is the lack of law execution which causes the occurrence of floods as the river is closed.
“So we even urged them to be vigilant and to help us in restoring the bodies of water,” he said. (Carolyn Jane Abello)