Sonny’s tirade v. environmentalists

Ramos laughs off Toledo mayor’s criticisms, insists recla project will destroy environment

TOLEDO City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña criticized environmentalists for reportedly blocking his 11-hectare reclamation project, which he believes will bring more economic development in the city.

Osmeña was one of the panelists of the Philippine Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative at the Quest Hotel last week when he complained about those who opposed his reclamation project on the seashores of Barangay Poblacion. The project would connect the existing Toledo City Wharf and the coal-fired power plants in Barangay Sangi.

The wharf is the gateway to San Carlos City and the rest of Negros Island Region, Bacolod and Panay.

Oceana Philippines, an international group advocating for the preservation of oceans and seas, and the Knights Stewards of the Sea Inc. (Sea Knights) opposed the project and conducted diving activities to survey the area.

A team of Sea Knights divers led by Atty. Mary Joan Dulhao found sea- grasses, juvenile fishes, crabs and a seahorse within the proposed reclamation site.

“In Toledo City right now, we are planning to reclaim 11 hectares. But these people who are a nuisance are blocking it,” said Osmeña.

He said he may not be able to pursue the project knowing the crusade of Secretary Gina Lopez of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“They said I will destroy the environment just because of that one insignificant and stupid seahorse. One thing I am sure, that in everything we do, there are pros and cons. But as (President Ramon) Magsaysay said, ‘I will defend this in Plaza Miranda.’ That’s the bottomline,” Osmena said in criticizing the environmentalist groups.

Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Estenzo Ramos laughed when asked to comment on Osmena’s statements.

“Funny. He deliberately omitted that Toledo City is part of the largest marine protected area in the country and, thus, there is no way that a reclamation project will be allowed,” said Ramos, a lawyer.

Ramos said that a reclamation project disregards the laws governing the management of the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, the Philippines’ largest marine protected area.

“Aside from damaging (the) already degraded ecosystems, these projects expose us to the adverse impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and storm surges brought about by extreme weather events in the coming years,” Ramos said.