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Jan 26 2010, 1:20 AM EST (current) clongcleng 419 words added
Jan 26 2010, 1:17 AM EST clongcleng

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Panglao Oasis Islands Project may yet bank off plans for an offshore reclamation one kilometer from the southwestern tip of Panglao Island, just to appeasing oppositors.

However, the plan stays amid protests until experts comes up with a conclusion that constructing five islets across Panglao Island poses threat to the rich marine life in the area.

Norris Oculam, chairman of Oasis Islands, explained that so far the issues that have been raised by the People Against Reclamation (Pare) which he referred to experts every time they crop up proved to be unfounded.

Oculam assured, though, that they would follow everything that the law provides and observe measures that would ensure environmental protection.

While the project is still under review, Oculam calls on the oppositors to share their data so that they can be included in the study.

Oculam explained that their concerns are also the concerns of Oasis, considering that no investors would want to pour money on a project that is not environmentally sound.

It would be hard then to attract investors when some concerns remain unsettled, he said.

It is for this purpose that Oculam said he wanted a thorough study on all the issues and concerns raised by the oppositors to get an assurance that the project would be environment-friendly.

In choosing the site, he explained that it is the shallow part of the area as he noticed that his sailboat would usually stuck in that part when he used to go sailing in the past.

It would be easy to mound islets in the area, then as its depth is only 0.4 meter.

If the study would only merit for less number of islands, then Oasis can reduce it to only five, Oculam said.

Or, if the entire project would be proven to be of threat to the marine life, then Oasis can bank off the project before it can reel off, Oculam assured.

But so far, the experts had said the project has potentials to proceed. And the next step is to conduct the environmental impact study.

It would only become definite when the result of the environmental impact study is out.

Only then will the actual area of the project- -the size, the shape and other details will be finalized, according to Oculam.

He said they will hire experts to answer issues and concerns that would be raised during the public scoping and public hearing.

They are also getting environment experts from Australia and the best masterplanner in Europe to address all concerns.