Shahani: I support golf course project but….
“WIN-WIN” SOLUTION PROPOSED
SIXTH District Provincial Board Member Ranjit Ramos Shahani has proposed what he called a “win-win solution” to the ongoing controversy in the construction of a golf course in the eco-tourism zone in Lingayen.
In a privilege speech before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last February 21, Shahani said the planned 18-hole golf course could be set back further away from the beach to address the environmental concerns on its current location.
Shahani, nephew of former President Fidel Ramos under whose term the 284-hectare land in the foreshore area of Lingayen was designated as an eco-tourism zone, said he fully supports the project but at the same time wants to address the fear raised by residents in the area over the possible destruction of the shoreline.
He noted that moving the golf course further inland was the request of oppositors to the project who met last week with some provincial officials in a dialogue before Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.
SHAHANI
“We support the governor in his goal to speed up the eco-tourism project as envisioned by FVR which is a sine quo non to tap investors. Ituloy po natin ang golf course,” said Shahani.
He added that he supports the granting of tax incentives to the foreign investors of the eco-tourism project.
OPPOSITION
Residents in four barangays covered by the project earlier filed a complaint before the Ombudsman against top officials of the province, including the governor, claiming that the seeming black sand mining will destroy the beach and endanger the surrounding communities from possible flooding and other natural threats.
The complainants accused officials of conniving with Alexandra Mining and Oil Ventures Corporation and later its sister company, Xypher Builders Inc., for illegal mining in the beaches of Barangays Sabangan, Estanza, Malimpuec and Capandanin.
In their meeting with some provincial officials before Archbishop Villegas, the oppositors recommended, among others, that the province adhere to the cease and desist order (CDO) issued on the project by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), a position that Shahani supports.
The meeting also recommended the removal of the separator machine being used in separating magnetite sand from pure sand because, according to Shahani, with the machinery on site, residents will continue to suspect mining operations.
The provincial officials present at the dialogue were Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan and Alvin Vigan, chair of the Provincial Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Office.
Shahani said the provincial government cannot feign ignorance over the requirement of an ECC because this is “basic in any environmentally-critical projects such as the golf course and eco-tourism project”, including the extraction of black sand.
The provincial government, through Administrator Rafael Baraan, however maintained that no mining activity is being done in the area as the extraction of black sand is only incidental to the construction of the golf course.
Baraan said this mineral is being removed to allow the growth of greens, plants and trees in the proposed fairway.
Meanwhile, Shahani also apologized to his colleagues in the SP for after calling them “just lackeys of Governor Espino who bow to his every whim and caprice” during a press conference he called in Dagupan City two weeks ago.
Shahani made the scathing statement two days after he was denied a chance to deliver his privilege speech for lack of a quorum.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
