Palawan has long been hailed as one of the top tourist destinations worldwide. Praised for its' pristine natural envirnments, Coron has often been included as NUMBER 1 to TOP TEN in many online lists and surveys for top global destinations.

HOWEVER, the pristine environment it has been praised for is in GREAT danger!

The Philippines Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) want to build a bridge connecting mainland Busuanga from Brgy. Bintuan to Lusong Island to Marily Island to Culion mainland. 

This bridge construction is within a 5-kilometer radius of SEVEN of the top underwater attractions in Coron and Culion, Palawan. Heavy sedimentation, dredging and making roads connecting islands to mainlands will kill nearby reefs and damage shipwrecks which are popular destinations for tourists!

Affected underwater attractions:

1. LUSONG CORAL GARDENS
2. LUSONG GUNBOAT SHIPWRECK
3. IRAKO SHIPWRECK
4. OLYMPIA MARU SHIPWRECK
5. KOGYO MARU SHIPWRECK
6. MORAZAN MARU SHIPWRECK
7. AKITSUSHIMA SHIPWRECK

 

Not to mention that SIX out of SEVEN (#s 2-7) of these underwater sites are also HISTORICAL SITES and are Japanese World War 2 shipwrecks dating back to September 24, 1944.

Heavy sedimentation from the construction will settle upon these fragile shipwrecks and potentially cause the collapse of these precious historical underwater sites. Nowhere else in the world will you find as beautifully preserved dive sites, in perfect conditions for SCUBA diving, snorkeling and free diving!

 

Coral Gardens (#1 on our list) is also one of the MOST PRISTINE CORAL REEFS in the area (in the whole world, in our opinion) and a popular snorkeling destination for tourists with its' COLORFUL and DIVERSE shallow coral reef. It is in great danger because it is WITHIN A KILOMETER PROXIMITY to the planned bridge.

Heavy sedimentation, run off and silt from the construction can lead to:

• Murky waters which means that the corals will be unable to receive sunlight critical for zooxanthellae (which provide corals their food and calcium carbonate to grow)
• Heavy sediment, dust and soil can also settle on the corals and suffocate them

Which can cause CORAL BLEACHING and result in damaged, dead reefs... not only of Lusong Coral Gardens but the coral growth on the Japanese World War 2 Shipwrecks which have been functioning as critical artificial reefs since 1944!

 

Most importantly, the construction of this bridge puts in danger, NOT ONLY these environmental and historical sites... BUT ALSO THE LOCAL LIVELIHOODS of so many tourism stakeholders who rely on these beautiful attractions!

Who have only just begun to recover from the lack of tourism from Covid-19 and the pandemic... Only to have our beloved tourist attractions and sites destroyed!

If you have been a tourist to any of these sites
If you are a local tour guide or tour operator
If you are a dive guide or dive shop
If you are a tourism establishment owner in Calamianes
If you are a nature lover or an environmental advocate

PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR CALL TO OUR PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO STOP CONSTRUCTION OF THIS BRIDGE!

 

We call on DPWH to:

1. Release the engineering and structural design plan for the Coron-Culion Bridge;
2. Conduct proper and thorough environmental and economic impact assessments;
3. Present the results of these impact assessments in a transparent manner to all stakeholders; 
4. Together with affected stakeholders, create strategic plans and safety nets and provide corresponding budget that will ensure protection and preservation of the surrounding environment and tourism sites; and
5. STOP FURTHER CONSTRUCTION, SUCH AS ONGOING BACKFILLING BETWEEN BRGY. BINTUAN AND LUSONG ISLAND, UNTIL THE ABOVE POINTS ARE ADDRESSED.

The 4.2 billion peso fund for this bridge can be put to better use in other ways WITHOUT RISKING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND LOCAL LIVELIHOOD!!!

 

We appeal to other government agencies to listen and support our call!

From both locals and from tourists worldwide who LOVE these precious and unique underwater attractions!

 

SAVE LUSONG CORAL GARDENS! SAVE SANGAT BAY SHIPWRECKS!

Protect our marine environment!

Protect historical and cultural sites!

Protect local livelihoods!

 

SAVE PALAWAN!