Skip to content

Philippines Today

home of the Global Filipino

Menu
  • News Stories
  • Regional News
  • Business & Economy
  • Science & Technology
  • International
Menu

Local folks slam ‘hatchery project proposal’ in Bolinao’s eco-tourism zone

Posted on March 19, 2015

BOLINAO, Pangasinan, March 20 (PNA)– Townsfolk here are up in arms against a hatchery cum eco-tourism project proposal of an aqua-feeds manufacturer to be built in Barangay Patar, Bolinao, which is well-known for its white sand beach.

Margaret Celeste, chairperson of the Bolinao Concerned Citizens Inc. (BCCI), brought this issue, now being discussed in the town council, in the social media to inform the people of Bolinao and of Pangasinan what is going on.

Although the matter is still being finalized, Celeste alleged that the project proponent, Feedmix Specialist Inc., II, already constructed a “big building,” initially thought as residential, without securing any building permit.

“When the village officials inquired about this, they were told that it will be a Feedmix hatchery project,” she said in her post.

She added, “How can we trust their sincerity that they will not destroy our pristine beaches if they even do not bother to follow (the law on) simple building permit!”

The BCCI head also posted copies of different technical comments of Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Enviromental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 1 and the Bolinao Marine Laboratory (BML) on the project proposal.

The response document of DENR-EMB Region 1, dated September 20, 2013, to the request of the local government unit of Bolinao for technical opinion regarding the project stated that the project will “extensively use coastal waters on it various stages of operation.”

It noted, “The hatchery is estimated to produce a daily wastewater of 70-80 cubic meters, and 12-13% of their solid waste is non-biodegradable and non-recyclable. The proponent is also projecting an influx of local and international tourists which might as well contribute to the rapid accumulation of solid wastes in the municipality.”

This was supported by the Deputy Director of BML, Ronald Villanueva, in his technical comments on the project development and management plan of “The Hatchery”- Eco-Learning Adventures, a Corporate Social Responsibility Project by the Research and Development Team of Feedmix.

He said that the daily discharge of 70 to 80 cubic meters of waste water can have “significant effects on coastal water salinity” of Patar “despite the water treatment facility that will be supposedly built.”

The proposed organisms to be produced at the facility include freshwater (e.g., tilapia) and seawater (e.g., bangus) species. However, there is lack of information regarding how seawater will be sourced and discharged,” he also noted.

Villanueva also cited that the total lot area to be used for the project is 34,609 square meters yet the lease contract for the proposed site indicates smaller area, that is, 25,280 square meters.

BML is the official marine station of the Marine Science Institute (MSI) of the University of the Philippines (UP)

THE BML OFFICIAL ALSO NOTED THAT THE TARGET COMMUNITY FOR THE PROJECT SHOULD BE THOSE AT THE AQUACULTURE AREA YET SUCH INTENTION MIGHT BE JEOPARDIZED SINCE THE PROPOSED SITE IS WITHIN THE ECOTOURISM ZONE.

A SANGGUNIANG BAYAN RESOLUTION NO. 2005-60, DATED OCTOBER 12, 2005, DECLARED BARANGAYS ILOG-MALINO AND PATAR AS “SPECIAL ECO-TOURISM AREA” IN THE MUNICIPALITY.

THE DECLARATION SHOULD ABATE FURTHER PROLIFERATION OF ILLEGAL ENCROACHMENT TO THE SALVAGE ZONE/BEACH AREAS, AND WILL FACILITATE AVAILMENT OF TOURISM PRIORITY PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM FOR THE EVENTUAL IMPROVEMENT OF THE FAST BECOMING TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN THE MUNICIPALITY,” THE RESOLUTION STATED.

“EVEN THE TECHNICAL PEOPLE ARE ONE WITH US ON THEIR CONCERNS WHICH YOU WILL READ ON THE DOCUMENTS…WE DO NOT OPPOSE WITHOUT STUDYING THE MATTER,” CELESTE SAID.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit

Related

1 thought on “Local folks slam ‘hatchery project proposal’ in Bolinao’s eco-tourism zone”

  1. sonny ortaliza says:
    November 11, 2015 at 9:29 am

    why not let the feedmix go if the follow rules and they should have water treatment facilities for waste water.

Comments are closed.

News Categories

  • Announcement (34)
  • Business & Economy (1,567)
  • Comment and Opinion (74)
    • Random Thoughts (18)
  • Current Issues (425)
    • Charter Change (1)
    • Election (228)
    • Population (6)
  • International (389)
  • Life In Japan (66)
    • Everything Japan (41)
  • Literary (34)
  • Miscellaneous (610)
  • News Stories (5,312)
  • OFW Corner (297)
  • Others (75)
  • People (408)
  • Press Releases (163)
  • Regional News (3,362)
  • Science and Technology (502)
  • Sports & Entertainment (287)

Latest News

  • BSP keeps policy rates anew December 17, 2015
  • NEDA cuts PHL additional rice import for 2016 by 25% December 17, 2015
  • DA cites serious implications of banning genetically modified products December 17, 2015
  • BBL is not yet dead – Drilon December 17, 2015
  • Comelec recognizes Duterte’s CoC for president December 17, 2015
  • NEDA chief sees 2015 growth at 6% despite typhoons December 17, 2015
  • House of Representatives ratifies bicam report on P3.002-T national budget for 2016 December 17, 2015
  • Cebu-based developer invests PHP430M to build 709 townhouse units in north Cebu town December 17, 2015
  • City gov’t eyes P75-M income from economic enterprise December 17, 2015
  • Baguio City LGU presents traffic plan for holiday season December 17, 2015

Archives

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Science and Technology

  • DOST-ICTO targets 500,000 web-based workers from countryside by 2016
  • (Feature) STARBOOKS: A ‘makeover’ for librarians
  • Science, research reduce ‘cocolisap’ hotspot areas in PHL
  • Montejo to further improve PAGASA and empower scientists
  • 1st PPP in biomedical research produces knee replacement system fit for Asians

Press Releases

  • Microsoft to buy Nokia’s mobile devices business for 5.44-B euros
  • New World Bank climate change report should spur SEA and world leaders into action: Greenpeace
  • Save the Philippine Seas before it’s too late — Greenpeace
  • Palanca Awards’ last call for entries
  • Philippines joins the global call for Arctic protection

Comment and Opinion

  • Remembering the dead is a celebration of life
  • Killer earthquake unlikely to hit Panay Island in near future – analyst
  • It’s not just more fun to invest in the Philippines, it is also profitable, says President Aquino
  • How does one differentiate a tamaraw from a carabao?
  • Fun is not just about the place, it is also about the people, says DOT chief

OFW Corner

  • Ebola infection risk low in Croatia
  • Death toll rises to 41, over 100 still missing in landslide in India
  • Asbestos use in construction a labor hazard
  • 500,000 OFWs to benefit POEA on-line transactions — Baldoz
  • 25 distressed OFWs return home from Riyadh
©2025 Philippines Today | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme