El Nido Foundation protests against dredging.

The Department of Tourism has recommended to the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) the deferment of the Roll On Roll Off (RORO) port development in El Nido, Palawan, pending more studies on the infrastructure’s impact on the ecological system in the area.

The said project involves a dredging of the shallow waters of El Nido to accommodate the RORO car ferries.

“We encourage establishment of infrastructures as long as there are clear measures and guidelines on the ecological preservation of surrounding communities,” said Ace Durano, Secretary of Tourism.

The planned route of the RORO ferries will displace small fishing boats, affecting a major source of livelihood in the area which is fishing. 

“Ecotourism is the island’s primary source of living.  Therefore, environmental conservation should be a priority concern of the developers,” added Durano.

Several groups which include the municipality of El Nido, resort communities and stakeholders have likewise appealed to the DOT to look into the dredging of the site as it will have serious repercussions on the area’s thriving marine ecosystem.

“El Nido is a Protected Area and a part of the Coral Triangle, making it one of the most important aquatic biodiversity sites in the world,” said Eduardo Jarque, Jr., Undersecretary for Tourism Planning and Promotions.

El Nido Foundation Executive Director Irma Rose Marcelo shares her group’s opposition to the project, “Instead of opening another port, we recommend the expansion of the San Fernando pier which has a natural embankment, and thus requires no dredging.”

Marcelo further provided a comprehensive information sheet on the proposed project which will cover 650 meters x 90 meters or 51,440 square meters total area, along the El Nido pier.  This amounts to displacement of 11,000 truckloads of sand.

The Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan of the municipality also states that the area is limited to ‘low density and nature-based’ tourism activities, which will be largely affected by frequent RORO trips.