Nadine Lustre, Katarina Rodriguez support opposition to Siargao bridge project

Nadine Lustre and Katarina Rodriguez are one with the residents of Siargao in opposing the Union-Malinao Bridge project in the island as they call for environmental laws to be duly followed.

Lustre expressed her support by sharing a statement from an unnamed resident present in the consultation meeting with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the residents of Union and Malinao, via Lustre’s Instagram Stories yesterday, March 8.

“Every single attendee, mostly local residents from Union and Malinao but also other stakeholders, local [non-government organizations] representatives, business owners present at the meeting voted AGAINST this project,” it read. “Even if this meeting organized by DENR and DPWH was open for everyone affected to express their view, not a single vote FOR the project was expressed.”

Residents’ sentiments that were aired during the meeting were then enumerated in the statement, which tackled negative effects on the environment. They stressed that the clearances issued before for the approval of the project were “invalid and illegal” as they did not consult it with the residents.

It was also pointed out that the DENR is not in favor of the project, citing that the bridge construction is “unnecessary” considering the existence of the Union-Malinao coastal road.

“All we ask is for environmental laws to be followed because they’re there for a reason. They’re there to protect the environment but more importantly to allow locals to have an avenue to take part in the management of Siargao [through] public consultations,” it said. “We ask that we always be vigilant about following all laws in any project because they are there to help us, but in this project laws were not followed.”

Lustre also showed snippets from the meeting where attendees opposing the project can be seen raising their hands. One resident was also seen asking for specific benefits of the bridge construction, adding how the authorities were supposedly just giving them general and vague information on the matter.

Rodriguez shared the same statement on her Instagram Stories, also yesterday.

“The update everyone needed,” she said.

The beauty queen also reposted a photo from non-government organizations Lokal Lab and S.E.A Movement, tackling the Expanded National Integrated Protected Area System (E-NIPAS) Act. According to the NGO, it is timely to talk about the policies on protected areas such as Siargao.

Lustre earlier called for the preservation of Siargao’s Secret Beach, citing how the bridge construction would “totally destroy the area.” JB

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