ENVIRONMENTAL advocates said on Friday, October 28 that will remain firm to call for the realignment of the Samal Island - Davao City (SIDC) Connector project or the Davao-Samal Bridge.
During a press conference at Ateneo de Davao University, the groups said they are exhausting all remedies to push for the realignment of the bridge and will prepare for their own legal actions.
Atty. Romeo Cabarde Jr. from the Ateneo Public Office said the legal actions will be reserved as the groups’ last resort once all the other means, including the ongoing committee hearing at the 20th City Council of Davao City, are not heard.
He said they hope the City Council will reconsider their resolution to issue a ‘certificate of no objection’ since the certificate was released when the SIDC project was still very broad and did not specify its environmental impact.
“We use the legal battle as a last resort but when push comes to shove, we are getting our legal arsenal ready. I think we are getting towards that because we are not getting any positive response,” Cabarde said.
The groups reiterate that they are not opposed to building the Davao-Samal bridge but realignment is needed to save the thriving 100-year-old Paradise Reef in the Island Garden City of Samal.
“Magkakaroon ng sedimentation na dadalhin ng current at mag settle sa reefs. Hindi makakhinga ang mga coral at mamatay ang corals, wala na pagkain at pagiitlugan ang mga isda. It’s not just the corals, it’s the clams, fish also, lahat ng may symbiotic relationship (affected),” said Ecoteneo director Carmela Santos.
On October 11, First District Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. brought up to the City Council if the current landing site of the SIDC project was the best option for the project, in terms of its environmental impact and efficiency.
Aside from the landing site identified to be near the Costa Marina Beach Resort and adjacent to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in Brgy. Caliclic, Samal Island which would affect the said Paradise Reef, the take-off site identified in Barangay Hizon is also a marine protected area.
“Nag-aalala ako palagi kung ano ang mangyayari doon sa area kapag matuloy ang bridge doon sa area. Pwede sana ituloy ang sa ibang lugar, doon sa mas inaral pa. Bakit diyan kung saan directly matatamaan ang buhay na buhay pa na reef,” Santos said.
However, despite the calls for realignment from various sectors, groundbreaking for the SIDC project was recently held on October 27 led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte. ICM