DENR may suspend Antique esplanade over turtle threat

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Western Visayas (DENR-6) is poised to recommend the suspension of a coastal esplanade project in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, amid allegations it threatens sea turtle nesting grounds.

The 4-kilometer Funda-Dalipe Esplanade has come under fire from environmental watchdog Amlig Alliance Antique, which claims the project endangers green sea turtle nesting sites and encroaches on a Marine Protected Area (MPA) buffer zone.

In a letter to the group, DENR-6 officer-in-charge Raul Lorilla confirmed the agency will advise the Department of Public Works and Highways Western Visayas (DPWH-6) to temporarily halt the project.

“[The DENR-6] will advise DPWH-6 to suspend the work in progress until such time that all environmental concerns brought about by the project will be addressed and dealt with, so as not to further damage or adversely affect the concerned ecosystem,” Lorilla stated.

He added that the DENR has already initiated an investigation into potential ecological and legal violations tied to the project.

The esplanade includes the construction of a seawall and road section.

The PHP95.5-million project began in April 2024 and is scheduled for completion in December 2024, based on project site information.

Under Contract ID 24G00048, the project forms part of the “Construction of Brgy. Comon–San Pedro Coastal Road leading to San Jose Port and Beaches, Resorts, and Sunset Viewing.”

Antique has a total of 46 MPAs, according to the Philippine MPA database, including the Lamawan Pony MPA.

The Lamawan Pony MPA covers 0.672 square kilometers in Barangay Funda-Dalipe and nearby barangays in San Jose de Buenavista.

It was established under Municipal Ordinance No. 2001-2 to protect declining coral reefs and promote sustainable fisheries across four barangays: Funda-Dalipe, Pantalan, Comon, and Madrangca.

The MPA consists of two main zones:

• A core no-take zone of about 6.5 hectares (0.065 square kilometers) within Barangay Funda-Dalipe, where all fishing and extractive activities are prohibited.
  • A buffer zone of around 60.7 hectares (0.607 square kilometers) across four barangays, where limited fishing practices are regulated.

As early as April 10 and 15, Amlig Alliance Antique had urged the DENR to investigate the project and issue a cease-and-desist order.

Rolly Pedrina, chairperson of Amlig, argued the project should be classified as an Environmentally Critical Project in an Environmentally Critical Area, which would require a full Environmental Impact Assessment and a Category A Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

The group alleged, however, that the project proponent secured only a simplified ECC, bypassing mandatory public consultations and failing to comply with DENR regulations.

“The project can alter natural coastal processes, threaten biodiversity, and worsen long-term climate risks,” Pedrina said.

Amlig also flagged concerns about the lack of transparency, noting that the contractor, J.E. Tico, was not listed in the approved ECC.

The group warned that ongoing construction may destroy turtle nesting sites along the coastline from Madrangca to San Pedro.

They added that the project violates the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, both of which prohibit development in protected landscapes and designated no-build zones.

While DPWH previously assured local environment officials that the project design would avoid turtle habitats, Amlig said no revised plans have been submitted to the Project Performance Monitoring Committee—violating DENR monitoring protocols.

They also claimed that residents from affected barangays, including San Pedro, Mohon, Magcalon, San Fernando, Funda-Dalipe, Madrangca, and Comon, were excluded from public consultations.

Earlier in May, former Antique Governor Rhodoro Cadiao also called for a suspension of the project, describing it as “ecologically destructive.”