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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Resort, restaurant owners oppose Puerto Galera cruise port project

Resort, restaurant owners oppose Puerto Galera cruise port project

Published Sep 18, 2025 01:06 pm
THE site of the P704.5-million cruise ship port project in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. (Jerry Alcayde)
THE site of the P704.5-million cruise ship port project in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. (Jerry Alcayde)
A group of resort and restaurant owners have joined the municipal government of Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro in opposing the multi-million cruise ship port project due to possible adverse effects on livelihood and the environment.
In a position paper, the White Beach Business Owners Association (WBBOA) claimed that the P704.5-million port project of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is a big threat to the daily sustenance of some 2,000 fisherfolk living in the project site in Sitio Hondura, Barangay Poblacion, Puerto Galera.
WBBOA said that aside from food security concern, the project will subject important coral reefs and other marine resources in the area to extreme environmental stress and destruction.
The group cited the lack of public consultation among stakeholders on the project and the absence of environmental assessment as required by law and clear port zone delineation.
Their contention was almost identical with the grounds used by Mayor Robinhood D. Ylagan when he issued a cease-and-desist order on the project.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources on July 28 eventually suspended all undertakings such as cutting of trees, earth-moving, development, or related activities inside the 1.3-hectare site when they found out that the project has not obtained an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) as required under Presidential Decree No. 86 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System.
Also echoing similar observations toward the project were fishermen and fish vendors in the area.
The project was awarded to Ormoc City, Leyte-based Premium Megastructures Inc. last Feb. 19 through PPA Bids and Awards Committee Resolution No. 023-2025.
The PPA said it is one of the dedicated cruise ship port projects of the PPA in support of the cruise tourism industry and the government’s push to establish the Philippines as a premier hub for cruise tourism in Asia.
The PPA said that the first completed dedicated cruise ship port was the P620.637-million Jubang Cruise Terminal in Siargao.
Other ongoing projects are the P743.978-million port in Alegria, Aklan; P418-million port in Coron, Palawan, and the P403.897-million port in Balbagon, Camiguin.

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Puerto Galera Oriental Mindoro PPA Cruise port
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