THE river park and seawall in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique. (Amlig Antique Alliance)
ILOILO CITY – A court has temporarily stopped the construction of a P1.5-billion river park and seawall that is part of a flood control project in San Jose de Buenavista, the provincial capital of Antique.
The Regional Trial Court-Branch 11 issued a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) last Friday, Dec. 12.
RTC-Branch 11 Presiding Judge Jojo C. Cruzat ordered the Department of Public Works and Highway-6 and contractor J.E. Tico Construction Co. to cease all works on the 520-meter esplanade and seawall project on the coast of Funda-Dalipe.
Petitioners Funda-Dalipe Fisherfolk Association (FDFFA), Amlig Antique Alliance, Dihon sa ’Raya Inc., and private citizen Remy Muescan welcomed the court’s quick ruling that recognized the “irreparable injury” being inflicted on the coastal environment.
The petition against the construction on the coast of Barangay San Pedro to Maybato Sur was filed on Dec. 10.
The petitioners said the project construction for the past six years lacked proper requirements, including valid Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Foreshore Lease Agreement (FLA).
The petitioners warned that projects such as this that are branded as eco-tourism have proliferated in mostly protected foreshore areas of the province.
Similar projects are found in the towns of Bugasong, Pandan, Hamtic, Culasi, Libertad, Tibiao, and Barbaza.