DAVAO CITY — An environmentalist group accused the Chinese contractor of the P19.3-billion Samal Island- Davao City Connector Project of intruding off Costa Marina-Paradise on Sunday, October 16.
In a press statement, the group who called themselves Sustainable Davao Movement stated ” At about 4:30 PM this afternoon, two (2) vessels (a barge M/V Rotsky and a tugboat SY 607) stopped around Point 89 of the bridge marker area. On board were three (3) Chinese men in PPEs resembling the Chinese contractors who previously attempted to initiate borehole drilling at the Lucas beach property without permission.”
The group alleged that the vessel was carrying ” Drilling equipment and many sacks of unknown contents stacked on top of each other. The group appeared to drop an object in the water, while a rope was extending from the vessel. At about 5:00 PM, the vessels left at the approach of the vessel going to Costa Marina.
The group’s monitoring team alleged that the “Vessels were found still docked at the area fronting Azuela Cove at 9:00 PM.”
The group claimed it was 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. Last October 4, two speedboats and a coastguard vessel (bearing long arms) entered the Costa Marina area unannounced at lowtide.”
The group is opposing the present alignment of the SIDC project saying the activity will destroy the marine resources of the area.
The statement concluded ” 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.”
