Is a war of photo contests brewing in Panglao?

This possibility surfaced after a group of concerned stakeholders in Panglao started discussions about the holding of the photo contest to invite attention to the slow destruction of the marine resources off the shores of existing beach resorts. A source privy to the discussion agreed to reveal information on condition that he will not be named since he is not authorized to speak about it. “The idea came from another photo contest that was obviously intended to torpedo the proposed reclamation contest,” the source said.   He disclosed that the group felt that the contest was a ploy to deflect attention from the unregulated development in the island. “It is hypocritical and deceiving. If the real intention is really to address environmental destruction, let us solve existing problems instead of a hypothetical danger,” the source quoted the resort owners as saying.

The discussions noted that nothing has been done to address the existing problems in Alona, Balicasag and other areas which indicate a refusal on the part of the concerned parties. “The resort owners obviously do not want to attend to the problems that they created because they refuse to admit this,” he added. No less than lawyer Lucas Nunag, Provincial Tourism Council (PTC) chairman acknowledged this in a recent pronouncement. In a news item in the Sunday Post last Aug. 29, Nunag, admitted that only a handful are complying with an existing executive order that mandates resorts and restaurants in Panglao to provide their own individual waste water treatment plant. Nunag said there is a need to construct individual water treatment plants to prevent the seepage of waste water to the sea. “If the concerned resort owners largely based in Alona and other areas are really concerned with the environment, they will clean their own backyard first,” the source stressed.

However, while there is no indication toward this direction, their response is to hold a photo contest that is directed to put the proposed reclamation on the defensive. The source said that to the concerned stakeholders, the photo contest is enough proof to show that there will be no voluntary compliance can be expected.  He added that if those concerned are really sincere, they should start rectifying their deficiencies now instead of diverting attention away from them. “If this is the case, then we might as well hold a photo contest that will show the affected areas as they are. Perhaps, the government will be forced to take action after that,” he added. One of those who attended the meeting said industry players should be more concerned with the present state instead of conjuring images of the future.

“The bottom line, however is sincerity,” he noted. The source said the resort owners have expressed alarm that unregulated development will continue unless the message is delivered that the government means business.   “If the present trend continues, new investors will get the message that it is everything goes in Panglao so they do not need to worry about complying with regulations,” the source said. He added that one of those who is pushing for the second photo contest said in jest that they can thank the initiators of the first photo contest for the idea. “If they did not come up with it, we would not have found the solution to our own concern on how to dramatize the present state of Panglao,” he added.