Concerned stakeholders in Panglao received news of an impending visit of conservationists and environmentalists to the town while expressing hope they will also go to other danger spots. “That’s very welcome news because it shows that other people are also concerned for Panglao and not just local residents,” a fisherman in Poblacion Doljo said in Cebuano. The fishermen said he heard about the proposed visit of conservationists and environmentalists who have expressed concern over the proposed reclamation project. While the incumbent administration had initially rejected any reclamation project, reports said an interested investor from Cebu was able to present their proposal to the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) in a recent session.

This development was resented by many fishermen who felt discriminated by the SB’s reception of the Cebu proponent when they had refused to entertain a group of local residents who wanted an audience prior to that. Nevertheless, the fisherman said the news that the SB now appears inclined to hear proponents on the reclamation project is a “welcome development”. He hastened to add that he was not yet sold out to the proposal but added that this would mean that the long sought-after environmental study would finally materialize. “This is what we have been waiting for all this time,” the fisherman said, referring to his group of fishermen and villagers. Unfortunately, nothing has been heard about the environmental study from the provincial government despite news that it would commission experts from a state university to conduct the study. At the same time, the fisherman said he heard from the grapevine about the visit of conservationists and environmentalists who are opposed to the reclamation project.

“When they come, we will ask them to also visit other areas in the town where the destruction of the environment is already going on,” he added. He pointed to parts of the town where resorts built structures inside the 20-meter salvage zone. Another spot that needs to be visited is the Balicasag dive spot which is a favorite destination of tourists. The fisherman noted that the diving activities are not regulated which could lead to pollution of the dive spot. “These are more pressing concerns so we will ask them to help us address these environmental issues first,” the fisherman said. According to another stakeholder who was interviewed separately, it would hypocritical for the visitors to zero in on the proposed reclamation project while completely turning a blind eye on the on-going destruction and violations. A resort owner who declined to be named said Panglao residents welcome the help of outsiders in pressuring government officials to act on the violations but stressed that they should be “objective and consistent”. “If they come only for the purpose of demonizing the proposed reclamation project while refusing to denounce or even comment on the existing environmental hazards, then they have no business coming here,” he added. (PR)