Lingayen residents protest versus beach sea wall
A SEA wall of the Lingayen Beach reportedly initiated by Second District Rep. Mark Cojuangco was slammed by fishermen, residents and other stakeholders during an indignation rally Saturday at the Lingayen Beach.
Led by P/Colonel Sonny Versoza (ret.), former Dagupan police chief and police provincial director, participants in the rally claim the project is being constructed without any public consultation.
Versoza, whose late father Mariano was one time mayor of Lingayen, said the project does not have an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) issued by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
He said an ECC is required for such a project because the Lingayen Gulf and its adjoining expanse is an environmentally critical area in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1956, series of 1993 issued by then President Fidel Ramos.
The protesters called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to stop the project as a sea wall project is bound to collapse because of the high and forceful waves of the Lingayen Gulf, especially during strong typhoons, and therefore, a waste of public funds.
According to the DPWH, the first phase of project which started in April this year is 900 meters long and next phases that will extend to Binmaley will be funded on a year to year basis.
It was learned that funding of the project till its completion in 2025 will cost P1.4 billion.
Versoza said aside from obstructing the view of the beach and the steel plates already installed on the beach in Pangapisan Norte pose harm to residents and visitors who promenade and children playing in the sand.
“They must be removed.” Versoza said.
At a joint committee hearing conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last Wednesday, Sixth District Board Member Noel Bince, chairman on the committee of laws, conveyed his desire to file a resolution calling on the DPWH to hold in abeyance the construction of the project.
Rep. Cojuangco has not issued any reaction to statements made at the SP hearing and claims of the protesters. (Butch Uka)
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