DENR: Reclamation project will not affect mangrove area

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau (EMB Region 7) assures the Cansaga Bay mangrove farm will not be affected by the construction of Global City Mandaue when the reclamation project begins in September 2022.Cindylyn Pepito, Engineer IV Chief of the Environmental Education and Information Unit of the DENR EMB 7, said on Monday, May 16, 2022, the local government unit (LGU) of Mandaue City has coordinated with them regarding the P20 billion Global City project.Pepito said the Mandaue LGU has been compliant and cooperative so far with the DENR in making sure that the mangrove area near the site will not be affected.The LGU, she said, had submitted the supplemental requirements needed by the DENR and was granted an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) at the DENR 7 regional office in Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City.The ECC is an essential requirement issued by the DENR that allows a proposed project to proceed to the next stage of planning and acquire approvals from other government agencies and LGUs so the project can start implementation.Along with the approval of the ECC is the submission of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) screening checklist to assure that the project has undergone enough studies and has passed the Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS).“So far, all the infrastructure projects these days are very conscious of the environmental impact. The LGUs already know their responsibility, which is to make sure to have sustainable environmental management, and that’s the same thing for Mandaue,” Pepito said in a talk with SunStar Cebu.When asked if the project might cause the rise of the sea level in Cansaga, Pepito said they had not conducted a study for this yet but assured they would further examine the situation in the area and coordinate with the Mandaue LGU whenever possible.Pepito also assured the agency will regularly monitor the project from the start of its land reclamation in September and throughout the construction process to ensure environmental compliance.The Global City Mandaue project will be established on a 101-hectare reclamation area near Cansaga Bay along the Mactan Channel near Marcelo Fernan Bridge. It is said to be the first waterfront city in Cebu province.The project is a partnership between the Mandaue City Government, private firm Global City Mandaue Corp. and the Philippine Reclamation Authority. It is supported by the Cebu provincial government.