Protesters want change in design: Fishermen stage rally vs bridge construction

CEBU, Philippines – Around a hundred fishermen yesterday marched to protest the ongoing construction of a bridge connecting the South Road Properties and Inayawan Landfill.

President of Panaghugpong Mananagat sa Siyudad sa Sugbo, Romeo Trazona, said the city government did not consult them with the construction, which will affect their livelihood.

Trazona led a hundred fishermen from the cities of Cebu and Talisay as they marched from the SRP to Cebu City Hall yesterday.

The fisherfolk complained that it would now be hard for them to pass through the water channel with the bridge of culverts blocking their way.

Fishermen from barangays Cogon-Pardo, Basak-San Nicolas, Mambaling, and Duljo-Fatima in Cebu City and from Talisay City use the channel to go out to the sea.

"Panginabuhi sa mananagat maapektohan. Ikaduha, ang pag-flooding. Inig high tide, mo-impact g'yud. Mao na ang moabot nga trahedya tungod ning project, mosamot ang risgo sa mga namuyo aning lugara," Trazona told reporters yesterday.

The fisherfolk is appealing to the city government to just change the design of the bridge for them to be able to have an access to their fishing area.

"Ipausab g'yud ning struktura, mao ra g'yud na among comment. Naka-cause pud ni og samad, na-injury nipugos og agi," Trazona added.

On October 25, Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover, in a privilege speech, urged Mayor Tomas Osmeña to respond to the fishermen's call.

"It is on this light that this representation would call on the City Mayor Tomas Osmeña to take heed and positively respond to the plight and call of the fisherfolks at the SRP. Be it resolved that the call of these fisherfolks be appropriately and responsively answered with a positive note by an order from the city's chief executive putting a stop to the work in the area until a factual and real determination is made as to its soundness and viability in relation to the livelihood of the marginalized people affected by it in the area," he said.

Alcover, who was also present in the rally, questioned the construction of the bridge as an alternative way for garbage trucks to the landfill.

Last month, the city government through the Department of Engineering and Public Works started the construction of the bridge.

Alcover disclosed that the construction has no Environmental Compliance Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The FREEMAN tried to call City Engineer Josefa Ylanan about this, but her number could not be contacted yesterday. —/NSA (FREEMAN)