LAPU-LAPU City officials are ready to defend their controversial 480-hectare reclamation project when the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) meets on Friday.

The project, set to cover up huge reef areas in the northern tip off Mactan Island, had been met with criticism by Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who is also the RDC chairman, and even environmentalists for its feared effects to the beaches on the island and the shipping lanes.

Ricky Poca, RDC development administration committee chairman, said there is a lot of interest in the project because the city government did not inform any of its neighbors of its moves.

“The project suddenly came out and so there is a lot of interest and questions on the project,” Poca said.

But Lapu-Lapu City Administrator Teodulo Ybañez said the project went through the formal channels leading up to President Arroyo’s endorsement,  which she announced during the celebration of Lapu-Lapu’s victory over explorer Magellan in April this year.

“Unlike other chief executives, our mayor would rather work silently,” Ybañez said, explaining the feasibility studies the city was reported to have commissioned on the project. The study reported that the project would cost some P10 billion.

He said the project is set to go on, with several private investors signifying interest to bankroll the project. He said the city is now in the process of securing an environment compliance certificate.

The reclamation project is part of Mayor Arturo Radaza’s plan for year 2020 to make the city an international gateway to the Pacific.

Ybañez said the project will not have adverse effects in the beaches of Mactan and the shipping lanes in Mactan Channel because it lies just across similar reclamation projects in Mandaue City and Consolacion towns in the mainland. But Governor Garcia earlier said the project did not have the endorsement of the provincial board and did not coordinate with other planned projects for Cebu.

National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Marlene Rodriguez said the project did not also get endorsements from the RDC—a requirement for big-ticket projects.

But Michael Dignos, Lapu-lapu’s assistant city attorney, said the project received an RDC endorsement in 2005. The provincial board also endorsed the project in 2002.

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Lapu-Lapu officials ready to defend 480-ha reclamation project before RDC

LAPU-LAPU City officials are ready to defend their controversial 480-hectare reclamation project when the Central Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) meets on Friday.