NEWSFLASH
ANTIQUE PLANS NAVAL BLOCKADE VS. MANILA GARBAGE
San Jose, Antique, Dec. 27, 2000 - Antique’s pro-environment lobby yesterday began preparing to block the first shipload of garbage from Metro Manila before the yearend, mobilizing hundreds of fishing boats and staging protests against the administration of Governor Exequiel Javier.
The United Antiqueños Against Garbage Dumping in Semirara Island (UAADSI) earlier slammed the provincial government for shortchanging its constituency and called for concerted action against the first garbage shipment arriving in the island on Dec. 29.
Up to 370 owners of motorized outriggers, speedboats, and sailboats have signed up for the plan meant to prevent the first shipload of Manila’s garbage from gaining a foothold in the island.
“Our officials have betrayed us, and they are shortchanging us,” it said in a post-Christmas manifesto circulated in bus terminals and flea markets in this city.
“We need to act boldly in defense of Antique’s right to a clean environment,” it said, referring to the agreement reached between the presiding officer of the Sannguniang Panlalawigan and representatives of the Metro Manila Development Authority and the consortium negotiating for dumping rights, Celdex-David M. Consunji Inc.
The consortium plans to transform a 28-hectare former coalmine pit on the island into a landfill called “Interim Integrated Waste Management Facility.”
The office of Senator Loren Legarda-Leviste informed Governor Javier by mail that Rep. Jovito Plameras Jr. and Vice Governor Damian Marfil have endorsed the MMDA request, and that the dry run will begin Dec. 29.
The lobby, drawing support from the private sector, local government units and non-government organizations, has maintained its objections on allowing Metro Manila’s garbage to be dumped in the island.
Semirara used to be the center of a coal mining operation by companies including the Semirara Coal Corporation under the principal holdings firm of the Consunji family, Celdex of Canada, and R-II Builders.
The MMDA and DMCI/Celdex consortium wants the 28-hectare Panian Pit, in the northern portion of Semirara, to be turned into a disposal area for two years.
Initially it plans to design a disposal area with a capacity of 2,000 tons of garbage a day or one-third of Metro Manila’s total garbage at a cost of P950 per ton. Metro Manila’s trash cannot be dumped at San Mateo Landfill starting Dec. 31.
Governor Javier, who earlier certified his administration’s willingness to participate in the project, has turned around and joined his constituents in opposing the plan.
The governor said he only issued the certificate to show civility, as it was unbecoming to bluntly shoo the proponents away immediately.
The Certificate of Willingness, which allowed the consortium to conduct studies and consultations with the residents, triggered adverse criticisms against Javier.
Reinforcing his sudden change of tack, Javier sent letters to his fellow governors of the neighboring provinces of Aklan, Bataan, Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Palawan and Romblon, asking their support against the plan.
Residents of Semirara conveyed their strong opposition against the MMDA proposal during the Dec. 4 consultation during which sentiment within the Antique provincial board also tilted in favor of oppositors.
Both the lobbyists and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan had expressed doubts on the capacity of the consortium to fulfill their offer of economic benefits and environmental protection, as there has been a negative precedent.
The DMCI/Celdex consortium offers economic benefits like taxes for the local government, direct employment of residents, share of revenues, production of organic compost and recovery of recyclable materials.
United Antiqueños maintained that the transportation of Metro Manila’s garbage to Semirara will endanger not only the waters of Antique but also of nearby provinces. Bad weather, incidents and other accidents, they say, might end up creating havoc to their waters’ marine life.
The municipal council of Caluya has declared its islands, including Semirara, as “garbage free zones.” The towns of Libertad, Pandan, Sebaste and Culasi around the island have either signed petitions or resolutions against the project expressing their “vehement opposition.”
Semirara Island, with an area of around 5,500 hectares and consisting the villages of Semirara, Alegria and Tinugboc, is home to 8,000 inhabitants. (By Rexcel J. Sorza)
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