Pahanocoy Anti-Reclamation Movement (PARM), composed of affected residents of Barangay Pahanocoy, stands firmly united in its opposition to the coastal reclamation project led by Engr. Andres Taculod. The movement calls for an immediate halt to the project, according to a press release from the group.
In a press conference yesterday, the residents of Barangay Pahanocoy announced their vehement opposition to an ongoing coastal reclamation project in their community.
The project, which seeks to appropriate more than 700 hectares of Pahanocoy’s coastline, has raised significant concerns among the local populace. Over a dozen neighborhoods have already felt the repercussions of this encroachment, including the destruction of vital mangrove ecosystems, changes to local waterways, and the depletion of natural resources.
The reasons behind this resounding objection include severe flooding. Continuous land reclamation activities have led to severe flooding incidents, most notably during Typhoon Egay last July. Deep floodwaters have caused extensive damage to residential properties and have had a detrimental impact on the livelihoods of the affected residents.
The project will also affect livelihood and food security. The ongoing land reclamation has resulted in the loss of livelihoods and critical food sources for the residents. More than twelve neighborhoods in Pahanocoy have seen their primary income source, which depends on the coastline, vanish. Families are now struggling to put food on the table due to Taculod’s project.
Environmental and resource degradation will also be affected: This reclamation project is causing significant harm to the local environment and natural resources. The loss of fish, wetlands, and other vital resources is proving disastrous for the community.
The group added that the project will have legal violations. Concerns have been raised about the project’s compliance with legal requirements. The project allegedly proceeded without obtaining proper authorization from relevant agencies, including the PRA, DENR, PPA, the Barangay Council of Pahanocoy, BFAR, and other government bodies. They called for urgent intervention and a thorough review of the project by the responsible authorities.*
