Environmental Impact Study Set for 4th Mactan Bridge Project

Consultants from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Wednesday met with public works and environmental officials in Central Visayas on lessening the environmental impact of the fourth Mactan-Mandaue bridge project.

Hiroyuki Morimoto, JICA project team head, presented to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7), Department of Public Works and Highways (DENR-7), and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-7) the “technical scoping” of the new (4th) bridge construction project.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) study is needed to lay down measures mitigating the ecological effect once the construction of the project begins and even up to its utilization, Hiroyuki said.

DPWH-7 regional director Edgar Tabacon, in a separate interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said an environmental impact assessment is a requirement before the EMB-7 issues the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) in favor of the project.

“The proponents should accomplish and submit environmental study through EIA before they can proceed construction,” Tabacon said.

According to the project briefer, the fourth bridge spanning over Mactan channel will be built on a “key biodiversity area”.

JICA’s preliminary natural environmental condition survey in December 2018 concluded that the mangrove forest and tideland in the project site may be a roosting or feeding site of threatened bird species.

It, however, said that “deviation of alignment is recommended to reduce (the) adverse impact on (the) tideland” near the mouth of Cansaga Bay.

The study will include a survey of flora and fauna in the area, where this infrastructure project will be built.

The DENR-7 EIA review committee, chaired by Alipio Bacalso, told the JICA experts about the need to determine the important species of plants and animals that will be disturbed in constructing the bridge project.

The review committee will also look into possible air and marine water pollutants, which may be produced during the construction activities up to its operation stage.

DPWH-7 assistant regional director Mario Montejo told the PNA that preliminary scoping of potential environmental effects of the bridge project will also include economic, housing and industry in the area.

Montejo said the study will also look into the possible adverse effect of the project on sea transportation in the area.

Accordingly, Mactan channel is the strategic route of north-bound domestic passenger vessels, international cargo vessels and bulk carriers approaching to and from the six domestic ports and the Cebu International Port (CIP) in this city.

Nonato Paylado, DPWH-7 planning officer, said JICA and DPWH will conduct a public hearing to hear residents in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue on issues concerning the project. (PNA)