Fishermen hold fluvial protest vs reclamation
Fishermen with cause-oriented groups from Cebu marked Earth Day on Sunday with a protest action in the seas to demonstrate their opposition to the several proposed reclamation projects in Cebu province.
Angel Trocio, the event’s spokesperson, said not only residents of the project site are affected by these proposed developments but also fishermen because these somehow destroy their fishing grounds.
“Among gustong ipakita ang among pakigbatok labi na sa mga proyekto nga gipahimuslan lang ang kinaiyahan ug labaw na nga wala na unya’y lugar nga panagatan ang atong mga mananagat,” she told The FREEMAN yesterday.
She cited one of the biggest projects here is to reclaim an about 1,500 hectares of land in Cordova town to pave way for the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway or Cebu– Cordova Bridge.
She said there are also some coastal properties in Minglanilla of about 100 hectares and in Naga City of around 140 hectares that will be reclaimed to build industrial and economic zones.
A 50-hectare area in San Fernando town is also set for development for another international port, she added.
She said the group also heard from the Philippine Reclamation Authority that there are also other projects to be implemented in northern Cebu.
Trocio said sadly, the government is only capitalizing the natural assets to big businesses.
She lamented that these projects are not even for the Filipino citizens but are more advantageous to the foreign investors.
By destroying the marine habitat, the poor fishermen will be badly affected because they might lose their livelihood and be forced to work in the cities.
People might also suffer as food security, especially the production and supply of fishes and other sea products, might also be affected.
Yesterday, during the Earth Day observance, various fisherfolk organizations with other pro-environment entities joined the movement to what they call as a “fluvial” protest.
Protesters rode several bancas and pump boats in traversing the seas from the Cebu South Coastal Road in Cebu City to a shoreline in Cordova town.
They were also bringing posters that say “No to Reclamation.”
After reaching the town, a forum with the locals was held to orient them about the reclamation projects in Cebu, including Cordova town, and their disadvantages to the environment and to the people, especially the poor.