Archbishop hosts dialogue on eco-tourism
LINGAYEN— Finally, a constructive dialogue on the controversial eco-tourism project of the Espino administration was held.
It took Archbishop Socrates Villegas of the Dagupan-Lingayen archdiocese to act as the moderator and to appeal to opposing panels in the development of the eco-tourism project covering four barangays in the capital town to take positive steps in ironing out their differences to put some sobriety in the protracted debate.
The church leader, who hosted the dialogue at the Archbishop’s Palace in Dagupan City, advised the contending parties that a “peaceful and civil resolution” should be pursued to address the controversy, particularly the reported quarrying of black sand on a foreshore area within the 286-hectare eco-tourism zone.
Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan headed the provincial government panel while Barangay Councilman Vicente Oliquino of Barangay Sabangan led the group from the coastal villages of Malimpuec, Capandanan, Estanza and Sabangan.
Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani also attended.
In presiding over the dialogue, the archbishop stressed that the “objective of the talks is to reconcile conflicting views and find common ground in pursuit of environmental protection.”
“Without prejudice to the environment, the church will only serve as the conduit of truth,” Villegas said.
He had turned down a request for him to lead a prayer-rally which, according to him, is “not an advisable venue for expressing opinions.”
Regional Director Carlos Tayag of the Mines and Geo-sciences Bureau (MGB), an agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), joined the dialogue and confirmed that the provincial government complied with the requirements for black sand extraction.
Tayag supported the capitol’s position that the area being developed into a world-class 18-hole golf course, had to be cleared first of magnetite sand, citing a similar cases in Leyte and Samar.
“Kailangan po nila i-rehabilitate ang area para matamnan nila para sa development ng eco-tourism where they will put up a golf course and other recreational facilities,” Tayag said. “Plants will not survive in an area with magnetite,” he added.
LAPSES
Baraan, on the other hand, admitted the provincial government committed lapses as well in securing the needed permit with the DENR but he stressed that the provincial government has no hidden agenda but the development of Pangasinan as a premier eco-tourism destination.
The provincial administrator said the province is now in the process of securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR as required for the establishment of the 18-hole golf course in the area.
Prior to this, he explained, a gratuitous permit was issued by the province thru the recommendation of the Provincial Mining and Regulatory Board chaired by the regional director of the MGB.
Baraan explained that while there was an extraction of magnetite, the activity was never hidden from the community. “We wanted everyone to see that we are developing the place and not mining for magnetite sand.”
He admitted the lack of information to the community early on led to speculation that the provincial government was into “black sand mining”,
He pointed out that that the discovery of black sand was incidental and that the extracted magnetite are now replaced with garden soil to make the ground firmer and withstand erosion.
Baraan assured that the barangay folk and other oppositors that the provincial government will always seek to protect the environment as it had done in the past.
He reported that structures are being constructed to prevent and mitigate flooding in the area as requested by resident-farmers.
Engr. Alvin Bigay, chief of provincial housing development, explained that the man-made lagoon will serve as a flood buffer zone and catch basin.
NO OBJECTION
Oliquino, the village group’s spokesman, clarified that while group poses no objection to the eco-tourism zone and the golf course project, the group expressed fears that the extraction of black sand might cause the destruction of the shoreline.
Baraan added that the extraction, which is already completed, was limited and done only in some parts of the area where magnetite was present.
He added that the provincial government has undertaken activities to enhance the ecological environment in the area among them the construction of a man-made lagoon, planting of turf grass, and transferring of trees to re-green the area.
Villegas called on both parties to unite in a project that they all agree are beneficial to the province.
“Maganda ang proyekto. Nagkaproblema lang sa cascading ng information,” he said.
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