DENR to halt esplanade construction in Antique

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ILOILO CITY — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Western Visayas (DENR-6) said it will issue a suspension order on the ongoing construction of the Funda-Dalipe Esplanade in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, amid mounting environmental and legal concerns.

The halt order, though yet to be formally issued, follows complaints from Amlig Alliance Antique, a coalition of environmental and civil society groups, which raised alarm over the destruction of green sea turtle nesting sites and the project’s potential threats to marine biodiversity.

“[The DENR-6] will advise the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6) to suspend the work on progress until such time that all environmental concerns brought about by the project will be addressed and dealt with so [as] not to further damage or adversely affect the concern ecosystem,” said DENR-6 officer-in-charge Raul Lorilla in a letter obtained by The Manila Times.

Lorilla added that an investigation is underway into the 4-kilometer esplanade-seawall-road project.

Based on the project details, the construction started in April 2024 with a completion date scheduled in December of the same year. The project has a budget of P95.5 million.

On April 10 and 15 this year, the coalition has called on the DENR to investigate the project and issue a cease and desist order.

Rolly Pedrina, chairman of the alliance, said the project qualifies as an Environmentally Critical Project within an Environmentally Critical Area.

This classification requires the conduct of a full Environmental Impact Assessment and the issuance of a Category A Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC).

However, the group alleged that the project proponent secured only a simplified ECC, bypassing mandatory public consultations and failing to comply with DENR laws.

“The project can alter natural coastal processes, threaten biodiversity, and worsen long-term climate risks,” Pedrino said.

The alliance also questioned the project’s transparency, pointing out that the listed contractor, J.E. Tico, was not among those identified in the approved ECC.

Amlig also said that the ongoing construction is a threat to the turtle nesting sites from Madrangca to San Pedro.

Amlig added that the construction directly violates the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, which prohibit construction in protected landscapes and designated “no-build zones.”

While the DPWH earlier assured local environment officials that the project design would avoid turtle habitats, Amlig said no revised plans have been submitted to the Project Performance Monitoring Committee, breaching DENR monitoring protocols.

Residents from affected barangay — including San Pedro, Mohon, Magcalon, San Fernando, Funda-Dalipe, Madrangca and Comon — were reportedly not included in public consultations for the project.

In a separate effort earlier in May, former Antique governor Rhodoro Cadiao also called for the issuance of a work suspension order, describing the project as “ecologically destructive.”