A LAND claimant cried foul over the imminent damage to mangroves in the 131-hectare reclamation project in Barangay Paknaan, Mandaue City.
Mario Florante Cabahug, who owns part of the planned reclamation area, said the P9-billion project of Listed Globalport 900 Inc. and the City Government to build a global city in the area will result in the cutting down of mangrove trees, which cover almost half of the lot.
“I support the development in the area as long as they preserve and enhance the mangroves,” Cabahug said in Cebuano.
The global city project will include a port complex, a mixed-use residential and commercial center, a casino, and an entertainment complex.
Cabahug has been communicating with the City Government since August when he found out that his lot, which is covered with mangroves, will be affected by the reclamation project.
He said he received no appropriate response from the concerned offices.
“This is the only area in Mandaue, which is an industrial city, that has mangroves so the property is very important,” he said in Cebuano.
Only concern
Acting City Administrator Giovanni Tianero invited Cabahug and other land claimants and public officials to a public scoping last Wednesday, where the project was presented with the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau.
“It’s a well-developed plan but my only concern is that they preserve the mangrove areas,” Cabahug said.
Cabahug is a holder of tax declaration dated way back in the 1930s for a five-hectare lot inside the planned reclamation area, and he continues to pay taxes for the lot.
He is the only one with a tax declaration among the other land claimants.
He was awarded a certificate of appreciation by Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office for planting 1,500 propagates in Barangay Paknaan in 2013.
He has been an advocate of cultivating aquaculture, ecotourism. He also campaigns against climate change.
“I’ve talked with informal settlers in the area about helping enhance and promote the mangroves as an ecotourism site,” Cabahug said in Cebuano.
Around 200 informal settler families will benefit if the ecotourism project pushes through, according to Cabahug.
He pointed out the irony if the City Government cuts down the mangrove trees considering it was granted the status of a low carbon model town by 21 leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation countries last October for promoting low-carbon technologies that counter the increasing energy consumption.
As a result, the City is entitled to a feasibility study grant to determine policy program measures that will look into proposals and concepts, specifically the project called Integrated Green Growth Areas.
The concept will create and transform infrastructures into green buildings under the Green Building Code of Mandaue.
But Mandaue City Planning and Development Officer Florentino Nimor yesterday said the City Government will preserve the mangrove trees in the area.
“Whatever it is, I’m just a small voice… usa ka tuig na ko ani unya wala koy laing kadaganan (I’ve been at this for a year and I don’t know where else to go),” Cabahug said. Dennis Carlo M. Premacio, USJ-R Comm Intern