DUMAGUETE CITY—Residents of Barangay Bantayan here, joined by various groups, are calling for a stop to a coastal road expansion in this capital city of Negros Oriental, citing possible negative impacts on the marine environment, the fishing community and other stakeholders.
Gary Rosales, president and co-founder of the environmental advocacy group Kahugpungan para sa Kinabuhi ug Kinaiyahan, Inc. (Kinaiyahan), told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that a signature campaign is ongoing against the project.
“The coastal road expansion project will be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and will stretch several kilometers of shoreline from Barangay Banilad to Silliman Beach in Barangay Bantayan here,” Rosales said.
One of the major concerns of the groups is the looming destruction of Silliman Beach, touted as the last public beach in this city.
The DPWH-Region 7 (Central Visayas) recently conducted a public consultation in Barangay Bantayan but Rosales said they were not provided a copy of the project brief, although it was presented to them.
“During the consultation, residents and barangay officials were unanimous in saying that we (must) reject the project that will destroy Silliman Beach,” Rosales said. PNA
