ENVIRONMENTALISTS and tourism leaders have stepped up their opposition to the P4.2-billion Coron-Culion bridge, due to its impact on the rich marine resources of Coron, a world-famous popular diving site.
In a letter to Public Works Secretary Mark Villar dated March 22, 2021, a copy of which was obtained by the BusinessMirror, former Tourism Secretary Narzalina Z. Lim, said, “There appears to be no environmental impact assessments conducted for this project. Republic Act 7611, the Strategic Environmental Plan for Palawan Act, prescribes guidelines in the planning, implementation and monitoring of the environmental protection and sustainable development of the entire province. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), chaired by Gov. Jose Ch. Alvarez, is the body which is tasked to lead the monitoring and evaluation and to grant environmental clearances for all projects in Palawan.”
She added, “There have been no stakeholder consultations held regarding this major infrastructure project.…This seeming lack of transparency has given rise to speculations, such as the presence of several DPWH trucks and equipment parked in front of the barangay captain’s house in Brgy. Bintuan…. Will these be used to build the gravel road that will connect Brgy. Bintuan to Lusong Island?”
She underscored, “Lusong Island, the site chosen to connect the bridge to Marily Island, Culion, has several marine protected areas surrounding it as well as ECAN areas (Environmentally Critical Areas Network) subject to restrictions according to law. It is not, therefore the right site for the bridge, even if it is the shortest connecting point. Putting the bridge there will destroy one of the main attractions of Coron.”
Lim said, since her letter, Villar, nor the other government officials and Cabinet secretaries she has copied on it, have replied to it. These include: Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.
Villar, Tugade, and Medialdea led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Coron-Culion bridge on March 6.
Impact on historical sites, scuba-diving areas
According to a petition currently circulating via petition.org opposing the project, construction of the bridge “is within a 5-kilometer radius of seven of the top underwater attractions in Coron and Culion, Palawan. Heavy sedimentation, dredging and making roads connecting islands to mainlands will kill nearby reefs and damage shipwrecks which are popular destinations for tourists!”
The underwater attractions that will be affected by the construction activities are: the Lusong Coral Gardens, Lusong gunboat shipwreck, Irako shipwreck, Olympia Maru shipwreck, Kogyo Maru shipwreck; East Tangat shipwreck, and the Akitsushima shipwreck.
The petition, which was created by the Buklod Calamianes Group (Save Coron Movement), stressed that the six underwater Japanese shipwrecks are historical sites dating back September 24, 1944.
“Heavy sedimentation from the construction will settle upon these fragile shipwrecks and potentially cause the collapse of these precious historical underwater sites. Nowhere else in the world will you find as beautifully preserved dive sites, in perfect conditions for Scuba diving, snorkeling and free diving,” said the petitioners, which have reached 11,843 as of April 13, 2021.
The petitioners added, “Coral Gardens is also one of the most pristine coral reefs in the area…and a popular snorkeling destination for tourists with it’s colorful and diverse shallow coral reef.” They warn that the sedimentation from the construction activities will eventually lead to the bleaching of the corals in the area.
“Most importantly, the construction of this bridge puts in danger, not only these environmental and historical sites …but also the local livelihoods of so many tourism stakeholders who rely on these beautiful attractions,” they said.
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