MAASIN CITY – A growing number of fisherfolk, home and resort owners are beginning to complain about the worsening situation in their respective coastal areas. They anguished on the damaging effects to their properties brought by Typhoon Paeng, a milder typhoon than that of Typhoon Odette last year.
Many fisherfolk said that they lost their homes and their livelihood. Seashore residents and resort owners, especially those in the areas of Barangay Asuncion “Pacu” and Barangay Isagani “Pugaling” expressed their frustration that repairs and rehabilitation of their houses and businesses will cost them so much in order to recover.
Some of the resort owners and coastal residents are claiming that the government’s on-going Maasin coastal road and reclamation project is probably displacing the natural flow of sea waters and as a result the sea currents are now flowing to other places. One of the resort owners, said to be among the five businesses heavily affected, complained and cited the government’s coastal activities as one of the apparent natural causes of their establishments recent damage.
The government’s multi-stage and multi-million coastal road and reclamation project that reportedly started in 2018, is planned to line the coastal barangays of Pasay, Ibarra, Asuncion, Mambajao, Mantahan, Abgao, Tunga-Tunga, Combado and Lib-og, including its beaches.
The said public government project has reportedly recently encountered obstacles.
Local Pro-environmental groups are reportedly seeking administrative and judicial remedies in order to protect the city’s coastal environment.
A petition was filed with the Regional Trial Court in Maasin City, petitioning the court to issue a Writ of Continuing Mandamus, that if granted would temporarily suspend the government’s coastal activity until such time that the local environmental issues are resolved.
