Guv slams PENRO on DENR report about Panglao Airport

TAGBILARAN CITY – “Include the result of the technical studies on the airport and of a survey taking the Boholanos' sentiments on the project in your report to the Secretary. This way, he – and you – may make your own informed recommendations on the PTSIP.” This was Gov. Erico Aumentado's instruction to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arius Ilano Sr. who furnished the former a copy of his request for reconsideration in the implementation of Memorandum Order No. 178.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the order that establishes the Panglao Tourism Special Infrastructure Program (PTSIP) that includes the international airport. Ilano formed a team that conducted meetings and interviews with the complainant, barangay officials, resort operators, tourists and other stakeholders.

Aumentado however said Ilano based his request and recommendation largely on the inputs of a certain Agustin Cloribel, vice chair of the Municipal Tourism Council (MTC) of the resort town of Panglao. Cloribel claims that Panglao has a karst (limestone)-based landmass susceptible to ground collapse.

The governor pointed out to Ilano that the issues Cloribel raised in his letter to the President have been sufficiently addressed in the various technical studies commissioned by the concerned agencies which carefully took into the consideration the costs and benefits of developing a tourism area. As a result of Cloribel's letter, Rep. Edgar Chatto of Bohol 's 1st District sought comment from the Department of Tourism (DOT).

DOT's comments

Ma. Rica Bueno, chief of DOT's Community Tourism Development Division said on the airport development:

While the potential hazards and negative impacts have been identified with the development of an airport in Panglao Island , it is inherent in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that includes profiling to state these facts so that the same can be prevented or mitigated;

Even with the potential increase in noise level, due to sparse settlement and limited flight frequency, the noise that will be generated by the operation of the airport will have minimal impact on the proposed site; and

The EIA study also includes an environmental management plan that specifically points out the strategies and mitigating measures for every potential negative impact identified.

Bueno also said the EIA done by Seastems, Inc. is for the 2,023-hectare proposed Panglao Island Tourism Estate (Pite) area of which the airport is included. Considering that airport construction is a critical project, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) conducted a separate and more comprehensive EIA study for the project that tackled comprehensively the major impacts and how these can be mitigated.

The project already has an environmental compliance certificate.

On the suggested eco-tourism theme park, Tour Consult International as commissioned by the World Tourism Organization and the Commission of the European Union prepared the Detailed Tourism Development Plan for Panglao Island , detailing specific components like the tourism resort estate, ancillary services, buffer zone, conservation area and an airport of international standards.

Bueno assured that the planning and development of the tourism estate has adhered to the principles of sustainable development giving equal opportunities to social, economic and environmental considerations.

Consultant's comments

The consultant in the preparation of the airport's feasibility study also apprised Deputy Secretary Manuel Gaite of the Office of the President on their findings. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Claudio Altura of TCGI Engineers said their comment and recommendation were strictly on the basis of the result of the study. On the risks associated with karst collapse, Altura said Panglao Island lies on a corraline limestone landscape similar to that of Mactan Island where the Mactan Island International Airport is located. Karst collapse or cave-in is one of the acknowledged hazards associated with limestone formation specifically where there are caves and underground water system. Altura said these conditions and consideration were closely studied and investigated by their geotechnical engineers, enabling them to formulate appropriate engineering technology to address the concerns.

He said an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) was also conducted in accordance with Department Order 96-37 as prescribed by the DENR in accord with international standards for airport development planning. Potential positive and negative were presented and raised to and discussed with stakeholders through series of forums and consultations as required by DENR's Permit Application and Evaluation Committee and for which an ECC was issued.

The proposed airport site has also been long considered in the Panglao Comprehensive Land Use Plan (Clup) reflecting the overall development direction of the municipality consistent with the national government agenda for the development not only of Panglao but for Bohol as well, he added. He also impressed that airport facilities in archipelagos like the Philippines , are one of the vital infrastructures that need to be strengthened and developed to hasten the economic stride amid the globalization trend. Environment protection however should not be sacrificed in the pursuit of such development, he stressed.

Bohol Poll 2005

Ilano said majority of their respondents, particularly the barangay captains, are in favor of the construction of an international airport. Aumentado presented a more distinct and scientific proof. The Bohol Poll 2005 conducted on April 1-17, 2005 by the Holy Name University (HNU) Research Center showed that 81 percent of the residents of Tagbilaran City are aware of the project. The net satisfaction rating (NSR) or the percentage of those who believe that the project is beneficial minus the percentage of those who believe that it has no benefit stands at 53 percent. Of the residents of the balance of District 1 that includes Panglao, 60 percent are aware of the project while the NSR is 65 percent. For total Bohol , half are aware of the project while the NSR is 59 percent. The HNU Research Center was trained by and uses the polling technology of the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

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