Is former mayor Doloriech Dumaluan who is in the forefront of the opposition to reclaim precious real property in the shoreline off Panglao Bay true to his words that indeed he is against the giant project? What seemed to be Dumaluan's strong opposition appeared to have been torpedoed with the revelation of the former mayor's erstwhile aide. Lolong Andoy in an interview yesterday by news anchor Ted Ayeng over Station DYTR, the former Dumaluan pal said he has it in good authority that his ex-boss was after all pro-reclamation. Dumaluan heads the loose coalition of oppositors known as Panglao Against Reclamation (PARE). Andoy sensed that Dumaluan had another thing in mind when he quoted his ex-pal as saying “ug silang taga Cebu o' taga Manila mogreclaim, kita na lang”. (If the Cebu and Manila people will reclaim in Panglao, why not the Panglaonons do it).

This revelation gave rise to Andoy's suspicion that Dumaluan was up to something else as against his perceived opposition to the project. To substantiate his claim of Dumaluan's true reclamation stance, he said at least two local media men were present when his former boss uttered the same statement. He recalled that it was New Year's Eve when they chanced upon each other in Dumaluan's resort last year. In an earlier interview, Andoy said he parted ways with the former mayor after a “gun incident” sometime last year. He did not elaborate. When Dumaluan ran for mayor in 2007, Andoy played a key role in the former mayor's bid to be reelected. He lost to Benedicto Alcala, now Panglao's incumbent mayor. Andoy was part of Dumaluan's media bureau as radio commentator. With the broadcaster falling from Dumaluan's grace, he wasted no time in having him accommodated in the waiting arms of V-Mayor Pedro Fuertes, another Dumauan critic. But Andoy's statement was quickly denied by Dumaluan. What heightened Andoy's suspicion about Dumaluan's real intention about the proposed reclamation because only recently he learned that his ex-boss had just bought at least two dump trucks.

In a phone interview yesterday afternoon, Dumaluan bluntly denied Andoy's allegation. He said he cannot claim to be a pro-environment at the same time favoring the reclamation project. He said Andoy's allegation about the heavy equipment was wrong. In a separate talk with Norris Oculam, president of the Oasis Leisure Islands and Development Inc. (OLIDI), the proponent of the project, said that Dumaluan was “not anti-reclamation, per se”. The proposed project has got the nod from the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with the passage of a resolution authorizing Gov. Erico B. Aumentado to sign and represent the province in the Joint Venture Development Agreement (JVDA) with OLIDI. The resolution provided that the Bohol environment policy should be the guiding principle in pursuing the project, including the province's commitment to growth and conservation of its natural resources and compliance with the relevant environmental regulations and other legal pre-requisites. But Provincial Administrator lawyer Handel Lagunay said that the agreement has yet to be inked by the governor. Also, the governor said in his letter-endorsement to the SP that “no reclamation activity will be commenced unless appropriate social preparation activities among the stakeholders and affected persons shall have been conducted.'

The governor also pointed out that the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be adhered and Environmental Clearance Commitment or Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Oculam said that despite the fact that Gov. Erico Aumentado has been given the green light to sign the proposed JVDA, his group did not make a follow-up considering the JVDA is already in the governor's office adding he doen't want to be accused of railroading the proposal. OLIDI has instead initiated the conduct of public consultation in the barangays of Doljo, Poblacion and Danao, Panglao, to be affected by the project. He said that his group has uncovered attempt of the oppositors to “misinform” and “mislead” the barangay residents of the true picture. He said that PARE presented another idea of the project, which is a reclamation adjoining the shoreline of Panglao Bay . (RVO)