Reason and Concern
BY RONQUILLO C. TOLENTINO

It’s all system go for Marina Project

THE “Proposed Renovation, Rehabilitation of the Caticlan Passenger Terminal Building and Jetty Port Enhancement and Recovery of Old Caticlan Coastline, Reclamation of a Portion of Foreshore (Marina Project) in Malay, Aklan” to be undertaken by the provincial government of Aklan under the administration of Gov. Carlito S. Marquez is all systems go.
The Marquez administration had faithfully adhered to the requirements of the 2.64-hectare project.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority issued an earlier clearance for the implementation of the Caticlan Jetty (Marina) Port reclamation project.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Environment Management Bureau (EMB) issued the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) on April 27, 2010.
The Provincial Management Committee chaired by Gov. Marquez earlier presented the project to the Sangguniang Bayan of Malay, Sangguniang Barangay of Caticlan, Boracay Foundation, Inc., Boracay Businessmen’s Association and the tri-media for clarification and interaction.
There is no legal question to speak of as all legal requirements of the project has been complied with. The Marina Project is not in any way harmful to the Boracay environment as there is no scientific finding that it would be so.
Philippine Reclamation Authority General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Peter A. Abaya, in his December 10, 2010 letter to President Benigno S. Aquino III, said the project will expand both Caticlan and Cagban jetty ports to enhance the capacity of the province to absorb continued growth of tourism in Boracay as well as prevent beach erosion in some areas.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority emphasized to President Aquino that “upon compliance with requirements such as feasibility study, technical engineering plans, Environmental Compliance Certificate (issued by DENR) and endorsements by other government agencies concerned, the PRA approved the Project in April 10, 2010. A memorandum of Agreement was entered between PRA and the Province in May 2010 and subsequently a notice to proceed was issued in October 2010.”
The provincial government of Aklan categorically stated that the project is envisioned to provide huge employment opportunities for the local residents which will helped alleviate poverty and will serve as a key link to public-private partnership for local development financing -- highly considered as Aklan’s immediate response to President Aquino’s development agenda.
Reclamations were undertaken and implemented by so many nations. On record is the earlier reclamations at the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland). The continuing reclamations in France for wharves and piers as well as the reclamations in The Netherlands or Holland and Singapore.
Reclamations were made for the constructions of the Hongkong Disneyland and the Hongkong International Airport and the Japan International Airport.
The Palm Deira in Dubai will be the largest man-made islands when completed from reclamation.
There, too, is the Changi Airport of Singapore, the Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan, the “Sunken Garden” in Vancouver, Canada and many other reclamation projects worldwide.
***Notes: Manila Bulletin’s January 10, 2011 banner headline: “Roxas next ‘Little President’?”
On page 14 of the same issue is the headline:“Obama picks Daley as new chief of staff.”
On even date is the Philippine Daily Inquirer page 1 headline: “Mar eyed as ‘chief trouble shooter,’” and the January 8, 2011 page 21 headline was “Obama names Daley chief of staff.”
It is actually a portent of things to come for Mar Roxas. The news item of Daley’s appointment as the new chief of staff of President Obama is just coincidental to the news about Mar Roxas.
Viva kay Señor Sto. Niño!