Senate urged to probe Caticlan airport plans
Presidential candidate and Sen. Manny Villar has urged the Senate oversight committee on Climate Change to conduct an inquiry on the report that the developer of the Caticlan airport in Aklan will chop off a hill to make way for the extension of the runway.
Villar said the leveling of the hill and its role in Boracay's micro-climate should also be brought to the forum of congressional committees where they are subjected to rigid and thorough discussions.
According to Villar, the Senate with the collective effort from many sectors must unite to protect our tourist spots, not just Boracay, from environmental threats both natural and man-made. Committed to this mandate is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he said.
Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda, his running mate for next year’s national election under the Nacionalista Party, earlier both opposed the R2.5-billion Arroyo administration project after learning that its developer, the Caticlan International Airport Development Corp., will level the hill in the existing airport.Under the plan, the airport runway will be extended from 825 meters to 2.1kms. to meet international standards and accommodate bigger aircraft. It is expected to be operational by June, 2010.
However, government specialists and concerned environmental groups have warned that leveling the hill will make the white beaches of world-renowned Boracay island disappear.
Officials from the DENR also consider the hill in Caticlan to be the main driver and generator that allow the gentle monsoon breezes to create such fine and polished sand that Boracay is known for.
Villlar is the main proponent of Senate Resolution 1325 directing the Senate committees on environment and natural resources, local government and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on economic development programs that impinge on local environmental protection and management.
The senator said that although the upgrading of the Caticlan airport would definitely bring in more tourists which translate to job opportunities for residents, and more revenues for the local government, “we should make a conscious effort to exercise our moral obligation to reduce environmental impacts as a result of our actions.”
“The plans of the developer to level the hill is deemed unconstitutional because the project would necessitate the destruction of our natural resources,” according to Villar.
On the other hand, Legarda said the Senate may investigate the implementation of the EIA process in relation to the need for climate-proofing of island developments.
Legarda, chairperson of the oversight committee on Climate Change, said a “micro-climatic change” due to leveling of the hill is very alarming as “it will adversely impact on our forests, wetland and water quality.”
Presidential candidate and Sen. Manny Villar has urged the Senate oversight committee on Climate Change to conduct an inquiry on the report that the developer of the Caticlan airport in Aklan will chop off a hill to make way for the extension of the runway.
Villar said the leveling of the hill and its role in Boracay's micro-climate should also be brought to the forum of congressional committees where they are subjected to rigid and thorough discussions.
According to Villar, the Senate with the collective effort from many sectors must unite to protect our tourist spots, not just Boracay, from environmental threats both natural and man-made. Committed to this mandate is the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), he said.
Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda, his running mate for next year’s national election under the Nacionalista Party, earlier both opposed the R2.5-billion Arroyo administration project after learning that its developer, the Caticlan International Airport Development Corp., will level the hill in the existing airport.Under the plan, the airport runway will be extended from 825 meters to 2.1kms. to meet international standards and accommodate bigger aircraft. It is expected to be operational by June, 2010.
However, government specialists and concerned environmental groups have warned that leveling the hill will make the white beaches of world-renowned Boracay island disappear.
Officials from the DENR also consider the hill in Caticlan to be the main driver and generator that allow the gentle monsoon breezes to create such fine and polished sand that Boracay is known for.
Villlar is the main proponent of Senate Resolution 1325 directing the Senate committees on environment and natural resources, local government and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on economic development programs that impinge on local environmental protection and management.
The senator said that although the upgrading of the Caticlan airport would definitely bring in more tourists which translate to job opportunities for residents, and more revenues for the local government, “we should make a conscious effort to exercise our moral obligation to reduce environmental impacts as a result of our actions.”
“The plans of the developer to level the hill is deemed unconstitutional because the project would necessitate the destruction of our natural resources,” according to Villar.
On the other hand, Legarda said the Senate may investigate the implementation of the EIA process in relation to the need for climate-proofing of island developments.
Legarda, chairperson of the oversight committee on Climate Change, said a “micro-climatic change” due to leveling of the hill is very alarming as “it will adversely impact on our forests, wetland and water quality.”
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