Undaunted by the defection of erstwhile oppositionists among the fishermen in the affected barangays, opponents of the Panglao reclamation are reportedly funding a case to be filed against the project. A source who declined to be named because he was privy to the preparations said the funding requirements will again be shouldered by the resort owners and politicians who have vehemently opposed the project. The suit will reportedly be filed by an NGO group since it is supposed to be more credible than the resort owners and the politicians. “The resort owners are starting to feel the heat since it has become very obvious that they are opposing the project out of business considerations,” he added. The source added that the defection of the fishermen who were initially used as pawns by the resort owners in their fight against the reclamation project have deprived the businessmen of a legitimate argument.
“Except for a few hotheads who cannot restrain themselves from being actively involved, the others feel the necessity of taking a backseat because it is becoming clear that the issue is no longer about environmental concern but potential business rivalry,” he added. At the same time, the source said that politicians also do not want to be identified with the opposition because they fear a backlash among the fishermen in the affected area. “The fishermen are very agitated especially after it was known that the story that they were bought to defect to the project proponents originated from a political operator working for a politician as a liaison with NGOs,” he added. The tide turned in favor of the reclamation project when fishermen, who were supposed to be the aggrieved parties if their fishing grounds are destroyed by the project, became convinced that the project is worth a second look. After witnessing the presentation from the project proponents, the fishermen realized they were deceived by the resort owners and politicians who want to demonize the project.
The situation became complicated when NGO workers who had been vocal against the project joined in the black propaganda against the fishermen. This angered the fishermen who turned the tables on the NGO workers claiming to speak for them. “They have not bothered to visit us, much less confer with us so they have no authority to speak for us,” the fishermen added. They accused NGO workers of using the poverty of the people as a come-on for foreign funding but alleged that it is the NGO workers and not the poor people who are the beneficiaries. “Have you seen any fisherman who was able to buy a bicycle because of the NGO project? None! But look at the NGO workers who receive big salaries, hold seminars in expensive resorts and even travel abroad supposedly so they can serve us better,” they added. The fishermen said they will no longer welcome any NGO worker into their neighborhood, saying they are even considering to spearhead an organization to oust NGOs in other project areas. “They are the ones who agitate the people against development projects so they are really the ones causing trouble and not a partner in development,” they added. The source said it was the consensus among the resort owners and the politicians that it should be the NGOs who will initiate the legal action because they are more credible. “They will just stay in the background although they will take care of the funding,” the source added.
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