Now it can be told: the City government of Dumaguete took shortcuts in reclaiming what is now the Pantawan projects.
This revelation, made before the City Council, serves as a stark reminder on the importance of transparency, adherence to legal processes, and accountability in governance.
The Philippine Reclamation Authority’s inquiry into the matter has exposed serious procedural lapses, miscommunication, and potential violations of environmental laws. This controversy underscores several key lessons that should not be ignored:
Lesson 1: Transparency is Crucial in Public Works. The fact that the City Council was reportedly unaware of the re-issuance of a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) in 2019 until only six years later today raises serious concerns. Public officials have a duty to keep the stakeholders informed, especially when decisions involve large-scale infrastructure projects that affect the environment, and public funds. Keeping critical information from the legislative body responsible for appropriating funds not only undermines trust but also raises legal and ethical questions about governance.
Lesson 2: Legal and Environmental Compliance Must be Non-Negotiable The confusion over whether the Pantawan projects were mere environmental enhancements or actual reclamation highlights the importance of precise legal definitions. The issuance of conflicting permits — an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and a Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) –suggests a lack of due diligence in ensuring compliance with national reclamation laws. This situation should serve as a warning to local government units about the dangers of proceeding with projects without clear legal grounding.
Lesson 3: Public Funds Must be Spent Responsibly. One of the most troubling aspects of this issue is the continued allocation of public funds the past six years by the local government despite their receipt of a CDO. The City Council has appropriated millions of pesos for the project, even when there were clear orders from the Philippine Reclamation Authority to halt unauthorized reclamation. This raises questions about fiscal responsibility, and the potential legal consequences for officials who approved these appropriations.
Lesson 4: Environmental Impact cannot be made an Afterthought. Reclamation projects have long-term environmental consequences. The fact that the Environmental Management Bureau had initially issued an ECC for a different type of project but which later amended it to include ‘reclamation’ suggests a lack of thorough assessment. Sustainable urban development requires careful environmental planning, and any deviation from this can lead to irreversible damage to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Lesson 5: Government Agencies Must Work in Sync. The overlapping roles of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment & Natural Resources, and the city government in this case demonstrate the need for better inter-agency coordination. Had there been clearer communication and coordination among these bodies from the outset, much of this confusion could have been avoided. Moving forward, a stronger collaboration among national regulatory agencies and local governments is necessary to prevent similar controversies.
The PRA has suggested a pathway to regularizing the Pantawan projects through amnesty, which could eventually allow Dumaguete City to gain formal ownership of the reclaimed land. However, this should not set a precedent for circumventing legal processes. The responsible officials must be held accountable for any lapses, and reforms should be put in place to prevent such irregularities in the future.
As Dumaguete continues to grow, it must learn from this episode. Development should never come at the cost of legality, transparency, and environmental responsibility. The people of Dumaguete deserve leadership that upholds these principles to ensure a sustainable and an accountable future for all.
