BY BELINDA SALES
I PARTICIPATED in two public hearings called by Barangay Chairperson Francis Eugene Zamora of Taloto, Tagbilaran City over the planned Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) project of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bohol 1st District Engineering Office in Sitio Lawis, Purok 3 — an area covered by Mangroves, in the same barangay.
The first public hearing on September 7, 2024, was highlighted by a presentation of the proponent company about the technology that the STP will use. Since the treatment technology was already presented, later during the discussions, I asked if the company had already won the public bidding of the same project. Up to the present, I haven’t received an official answer from the proponent yet. As a Taloto constituent, I believe this is a logical question and must be answered.
Moving forward, the nagging fear of my fellow Talotoanons — yes, I grew up in Taloto and finished my last four years of elementary education at the public school — is the impact of this project on the mangroves and the treated water that will be released into the sea.
These are valid concerns and even the representative of the Environmental Management Bureau of DENR, Ms. Rosalina Gaterin, expressed that there are requirements that need fulfillment like an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) which she clarified is a planning tool; a tenurial instrument since a portion of the sea will be affected; and the mangroves in the area. She asked why the choice is Taloto when there are mangroves along the coast, and should the STP be constructed and a problem arise, who will be held accountable – the contractor; DPWH; the Barangay; or the city government of Tagbilaran? She finished by saying we want to see the plan for the whole project. We agree with her.
A barangay Kagawad Galicano Refulle, the chairperson of the committee on environmental protection, voiced his concerns over the project citing how the sea of Taloto has provided food on the table for many Talotoanons over the years, including his own experience coming from a marginalized family; the presence of 29 hectares of mangroves in the area; how the treated water will affect the sea particularly that Taloto also hosts a public swimming space called Tubig Dako; and the impact of the treated water on the seawater.
There were more questions and more answers but the fear of the residents was so palpable that I suggested another public hearing to listen to the answers to the questions that needed clarification. Chairperson Zamora recognized the need for a second public hearing.
On the second public hearing on October 12, 2024, it seemed the people’s fear of the project had become more evident, and no matter the extra patience that everyone extended, it is fundamental that the people’s voice must be heard — after all that is the essence of public consultation.
The technology proponent didn’t come so I never learned if a public bidding was conducted and they were the winning bidder, hence, the choice of technology. More people voiced their apprehensions but all these were targeted at protecting the sea, the mangroves, and the impact of the plant-treated water on the seawater. Barangay residents are worried about making a decision now that will impact future generations of Talotoanons.
Boy, was I glad when Ms. Glicerita C. Racho, officer-in-charge/CENR Officer of DENR spoke and explained the process. Racho explained that this step of the whole process is called “scoping.” For non-environmental practitioners, scoping is a “process to identify critical environmental impacts out of the possible environmental impacts of a development project.” The priority fields or items of an environmental impact assessment are also identified through the scoping process. An STP is a development project. Another definition is, “Scoping is the gathering and analysis of information that a state agency — DENR for instance, will use to establish the breadth, or scope, of environmental review of a proposed project.”
Racho continued that this step is still to inform the Talotoanons if they want to “embrace the project or not.” She added that before proceeding to the issuance of the ECC, the proponent needs to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or study; the proponent’s project will be subjected to a review to determine if the environmental parameters are complied with; it will not harm the environment . . . before an ECC is even issued. The ECC will set the conditions to mitigate the project’s negative impact on the environment, and, be complied with by the proponent. With the dangling mangrove worry, Racho assured that no mangroves would be cut in compliance with the law.
Toward the end of the public hearing, sensing an impasse, Racho suggested that an EIA/study be done, and, once completed, this will be presented again to the people of Taloto in another round of public consultation. This seemed acceptable to the body — although at this point everybody was ready to leave, thus an “endorsement for the conduct of an EIA” was proposed as recommended by Racho. The question we ask now is which government agency will undertake the EIA? The DPWH, the DENR?
Again in environmental lingo, an EIA “is a tool used to assess the significant effects of a project or development proposal on the environment. EIAs guarantee that project decision-makers think about the likely effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce, or offset those effects.” We do not want the private proponent to do the study. We want the DENR in collaboration with an independent group or organization to undertake it.
I also requested a copy of the project plan and design from the DPWH because we want it examined by other experts to determine its suitability in our barangay. Of course, this request satisfies the principles of transparency and good governance.
So, my fellow Taloto constituents, let’s continue with our vigilance, community involvement, and empowerment. We don’t want another violation of our trust in governance as grossly demonstrated by cutting the four Acacia trees in the same barangay: Taloto.
P.S. Thank you Barangay Secretary Joel L. Gubot for the Documentation. Fully appreciated.
***
The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales every Saturday, 10 a.m. at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City. Email at belindabelsales@gmail.com. X @ShilohRuthie./PN
