AN environmental group claimed that another group of Chinese contractors had been spotted near the property where the landing point of the Samal Island-Davao City Connector (SIDC) Project (Davao-Samal Bridge) will be located.
In a press statement, Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM) said that two vessels stopped around Point 89 of the bridge marker area, near the Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort and Costa Marina Beach Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Davao del Norte on 4:30 p.m., Sunday afternoon.
SDM said three Chinese men wearing personal protective equipment were onboard the vessels.
The group said they are those who previously attempted to initiate borehole drilling at the Lucas beach property without permission.
On board the vessel was drilling equipment and many sacks of unknown contents stacked on top of each other, they said.
They added that the excursionist appeared to drop an object in the water, while a rope was extending from the vessel.
SDM said the vessels left at the approach, including photo documentation, of the vessel going to Costa Marina around 5 p.m.
They said the vessels were found still docked at the area fronting Azuela Cove at 9 p.m.
“This is the second time since October 4 that the presence of Chinese contractors in the area threatens the safety of the corals and marine life in Davao Gulf,” the envi-group said.
The group earlier reported that two speedboats and a coastguard vessel with personnel carrying firearms entered the Costa Marina area unannounced at low tide.
The Lucas-Rodriguez family, owners of the affected property, said they will be filing legal charges against Chinese contractors and other government personnel for “harassment and intimidation” after the latter trespassed on their properties.
SunStar Davao has reached out to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the recent claims of SDM, but they have yet to respond.
In a previous report, DPWH-Davao Spokesperson Dean Ortiz debunked claims of a “forceful entry” by Chinese contractors and government personnel.
Ortiz added the area where the team docked the speed boat is open to the public.
The recent incident also happened days after Davao City First District Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr. questioned the alignment of the Davao-Samal Bridge.
The landing site, which is identified to be near the Costa Marina Beach Resort and adjacent to Paradise Island Park and Beach Resort in Brgy. Caliclic, Samal Island, is seen to affect the reef and marine resources near the said resort.
SDM also said that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a joint dive last October 12 and in a subsequent social media post acknowledged the existence of hard corals, soft corals, and seagrass community in that area.
“All intrusions of over-eager foreign contractors must stop before final decisions have been made by the Filipino people through its government agencies and the Philippine government,” the group said.
SDM is part of the Save Samal Reefs Alliance (SSRA), a network of various galls calling for the protection of the Paradise Reef, which will be affected by the approved alignment of the Davao-Samal Bridge.
The alliance opposed the alignment of the bridge as they believe it could cause irreversible damage to the environment. RGL