Although I have never passed myself off as an urban planner, environmentalist, or journalist, I feel alluded to in Dr. Efren Padilla’s demeaning description of those who question the reclamation project in the boulevard area.
After all, like my friends, I have shared my critical comments about the project–or any reclamation in that area–in this column (The Boulevard Redux, Nov. 5, 2017), as well as in an earlier essay, Of Sea and Mountain: College Town on the Water in an anthology of memories of our hometown by various national writers (The Dumaguete We Know, Manila: Anvil, 2012).
Dr. Efren Padilla sneeringly calls reclamation critics “pseudo urban planners,” “pseudo environmentalists,” “pseudo journalists” and more (People’s Corner, MetroPost, June 23, 2019).
By expressing my anti-reclamation views because of the negative results on the environment of a place I care deeply about, I would be one of those “pseudo-environmentalists”.
True, unlike Dr. Efren Padilla who has a Ph.D. in Urban & Regional Planning and is professor of Urban Planning and Sociology at a university in California, my friends and I have no such impressive-sounding academic credentials, so Dr. Efren Padilla can condescendingly call us “pseudo” this and “pseudo” that.
Our opinions as lay persons are based on practical observation, common sense, and what we read, and have been shown to have happened in the past, and is happening today, as well as discussions with professionals (not “pseudo”) in the field like National Scientist Angel Alcala, and former SU President Ben Malayang III.
Of course, it’s no surprise that Dr. Efren Padilla would defend so passionately the reclamation project of the honorable movers at City Hall. After all, Dr. Efren Padilla is the architect and consultant of the City’s Master Plan, publicized during the campaign for local officials in the 2016 elections.
I confess that, at first, I was excited–in fact, delighted–about some aspects of the Master Plan, especially plans for improving the area around the boulevard, as well as neighboring sites to make them more pedestrian-friendly. Traffic-free places for pedestrians to stroll, socialize, or just sit and enjoy the scenery are a plus for every town or city.
But I do not recall that–unless I am wrong–reclamation was mentioned in the Master Plan. I foolishly assumed that, in implementing changes, our honorable officials would always consider what delights visitors to Dumaguete City, and is a source of pride to its residents: its “small-town charm” and relatively-relaxed quality of life, and especially its unique boulevard with a commanding view of the Bohol Sea and neighboring islands.
Looking back, in my naiveté, I failed to see that the whole intent of the Master Plan was to drastically change the character of Dumaguete. Modern urbanization was/is the be-all and end-all to encourage the influx of more and more tourists and investors driving a vibrant economy. The sentimental nostalgia of old-fashioned, backward-thinking, anti-progressive people–“pseudos” and “sore losers” to Dr. Efren Padilla–be damned!
Of course, Dr. Efren Padilla would know the environmental considerations of urban planning. As he is reported to have said in a speech at Silliman University: “Urbanization requires environmental consciousness, quality education and investor-friendly laws in order to build sustained industries…Strong political will is crucial to implementing any Master Plan.” (Negros Oriental can be like Hong Kong, SU Website, Aug. 8, 2012).
No wonder then that the honorable officials at City Hall have acted so determinedly and stubbornly, come what may, to implement their controversial reclamation projects.
But is “environmental consciousness” just for advancing the economy?
It’s ironic that Dr. Efren Padilla would also describe us as “peddlers of snake oil.” (For those unfamiliar with the phrase, in America, these are the unprincipled smooth-talking, glib salesmen in traveling medicine shows who tout their worthless homemade concoctions–like snake oil–as miraculous cures for all sorts of health problems of the gullible. In short, con men.)
But who really are the “peddlers of snake oil” in this reclamation controversy? Who was not forthcoming and has been dishonest? Who kept us in the dark about the real intent and purpose and, especially, extent of this project which was slyly-concealed by giving it the broad, unspecific name: “Rehabilitation and Improvement of Rizal Boulevard,” or even “Foreshore Protection”?
But, in fact, as finally revealed to the City Council just this month, on June 13, it’s for eight beach volleyball courts. That, in exchange for a priceless ocean view.
The earlier, smaller Pantawan project was also just called a simple “Viewing Deck.” As time passed, and we saw more huge boulders, sand and gravel, and heavy construction equipment cluttering the boulevard, and noted how long it was taking to finish the “viewing deck,” we became alarmed.
But the official word was that no reclamation was taking place, not to worry, folks.
The project took forever to complete, but eventually got done. Lo and behold, the “deck” was a most elaborate, expensive-looking, wide, spacious area jutting farther out to sea than we were made to expect.
As many who had thought it would just be mainly for “viewing” observed: “Kabayle-han na” (Dancing can take place now).
Emboldened by their success in pushing through the Pantawan reclamation by deception, the honorable movers at City Hall immediately embarked on a monstrously-large reclamation project at the southern end of the boulevard that’s still going on.
People going by the site joke: “Abut nas Siqujor ang construction” (The construction will reach Siquijor).
As Esther Windler has stated in her column Tree Hugger here (June 23, 2019), by the time this project is completed, it will block the view of the sea from Bethel Hotel up to the Press Club building.
By Dr. Efren Padilla’s standards, Esther shouldn’t be listened to, a “peddler of snake oil.”
But who has been dishonest and conned the public? Who started the project before acquiring the required government environmental permits?
Learning from what happened in the past to the Ports Authority’s reclamation plans that the people and friends of Dumaguete succeeded in aborting, this time around, the honorable movers at City Hall pursued their plans in great secrecy to deceitfully sneak the project through.
From experience, they were confident that regardless of controversy, nothing can be, will be done to stop a project that had already been started, and well on its way to completion. Secrecy, duplicity, deviousness. Disgraceful!
And we, the conned hapless victims, are “pseudo urban planners,” “pseudo environmentalists,” “pseudo-journalists,” “sore losers,” “peddlers of snake oil,” according to Dr. Efren Padilla? Madahan!
This reclamation in the end that destroys the unique, impressive ocean view from the boulevard will be the legacy of the present City Administration, its pride and major contribution in altering the character of Dumaguete from a city by the sea with a relatively easy-going quality of life, to just another noisy, bustling, economically-driven modern urban center.
Will the pressing garbage and sewage-disposal problems have been solved by then? Or will it be another Boracay?
And what of the rising seas? Remember Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Ozymandias about the half-buried ruins in the dessert of a Sphinx-like monument representing a once-powerful ruler: My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:/Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!/Nothing beside remains. Round the decay / Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare/The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Change the word “sands” to “seas” in that final line, and you get the idea.
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