Of Kawit and environment

It seems opposition to the proposed development of Kawit Island at the South Road Properties not only revolves around some portions of the joint venture agreement that the Cebu City Council claimed are disadvantageous to the city.

Few days ago, an environmentalist told the City Council to consider the effect on the environment if ever the P18-billion Kawit project proposal is revived and approved, saying Cebu has already been a dying ecosystem.

In a letter to the council, environmentalist Jose Gapas, co-chairperson of the committee on environment of the Cebu City Development Council, said a proper environmental impact study should be conducted before the city pushes through with the project.

"Nevertheless, if the city government allows Kawit Island an intensive development, its development programs and activities must go through a proper environmental impact study and be issued an environmental clearance certificate as required by our national policy; to spare us Cebuanos, the embarrassment and sufferings which is now happening in Boracay," Gapas said.

Gapas is right in voicing out the need for an environmental study before the proposed Kawit project is approved. After all, any development, big or small, must go through thorough scrutiny in order for it not to upset the environment.

Yes, there's nothing wrong with Gapas' reminder for the city to be cautious about environmental violations the project might cause. But since the Kawit development, if ever it pushes through, is a huge investment poured in by a company connected to one of the country's richest families, it is really impossible for it not to comply with all environmental regulations.

We should remember that as one of major investments being pushed at the SRP, all eyes will certainly be busy scrutinizing the project from its foundation to completion to make sure everything goes as planned and conforms to what is being laid out by authorities.