THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has decided to abort a multimillion-peso road project on Sibuyan Island, a key biodiversity area in the province of Romblon.
Rodne R. Galicha, country manager of the Climate Reality Project-Philippines and a leader of Bayay Sibuyanon Inc., said they were informed by Engr. Napoleon S. Famadico that the DPWH has decided not to implement the Cross Country Road Project on the island.
The road project, which is planned to pass through a densely forested area, threatens the island’s rich biodiversity. The project’s implementation violates a number of environmental laws and skips a lot of procedure, including public consultation that is a requirement as part of its permitting process, according to Galicha.
The plan is to construct a 3.8-kilometer concrete road, also known as the Magdiwang-San Fernando Cross Country Road that will partly traverse Mount Guiting-Guiting Natural Park, a protected area.
Mount Guiting-Guiting is at the heart of a biodiversity haven. It is often referred to as the Galapagos Island in Asia because of the rich biodiversity that thrive on the island.
The 15,265-hectare protected area by virtue of Presidential Proclamation (PP) 746 is one of several key biodiversity areas in the Philippines. P746 was signed on February 20, 1996, by then-President Fidel V. Ramos.
The second-largest island in Romblon, Sibuyan has a land area of approximately 45,600 hectares. More than half of the island’s total land area is covered with dense forest.
The proposed road project is one of the eight national government infrastructure projects in Romblon with an allocated budget of P95 million.
But several non-governmental organizations strongly opposed the project and launched an online petition to call the attention of concerned authorities, fearing that it will result in the massive killings of trees, including hundred-year-old native trees that serve as a natural defense of the people living on the island against calamities.
According to Galicha, Famadico and his DPWH team said they found it difficult to secure and prepare the documents due to time constraints. The permits needed include an environmental compliance certificate (ECC), which will require the conduct of an environmental impact-assessment study.
Also, Famadico was quoted by Galicha as saying the project is not included in the list of projects proposed by the DPWH District Office for funding in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) but was nevertheless included in the final list of projects funded in the Approved 2018 General Appropriations Act.
The DPWH decided not to implement anymore the project and has already canceled the bidding. The department has also requested to realign the budget (for the project) or revert the funds allocated to it.
Further, Galicha said the DPWH official assured that in the future planning and implementation of their projects, proper coordination and consultations with the concerned agencies and stakeholders will be undertaken as they pursue and prioritize development of Sibuyan Island through quality and meaningful infrastructure projects under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration.
Galicha expressed elation for the decision and lauded the DPWH in Romblon for honestly responding to their queries about the project.
In a text message sent to the BusinessMirror, Galicha said a project that violates existing laws and policies will not prosper.
“The implementation of any project without proper coordination and consultation will not push through,” he said. “We, therefore, encourage the masses to maximize the democratic space warranted by the Constitution, and laws for participatory and inclusive governance, transparency and accountability.”