The Unsolicited San Narciso Coastal Road Project, authored by Congresswoman Cheryl Deloso-Montalla with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)  is a violation of PEOPLE’S RIGHTS TO SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND THE RIGHT TO LIVE IN A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. These are rights vested in the Philippine Constitution and various laws of the land.

The  Unsolicited San Narciso Coastal Road Project  is a project that unfortunately is not a response to the enduring needs of our community. On the contrary, IT  WILL THREATEN OUR TOWN, OUR LIVELIHOODS, LOCAL ECONOMY, OUR RICH BIODIVERISTY AND MOST OF ALL, OUR RIGHTS AND DIGNITY AS A PEOPLE.

We, the people of San Narciso (Zambales),  taxpayers, workers for the local economy, tourism investors, environmental defenders, marginalized fisherfolk groups, fish vendors, local sari-sari store owners, business owners,  farmers, tourists who love San Narciso, and other sectors are STRONGLY AND VEHEMENTLY OPPOSING THE SAN NARCISO COASTAL ROAD PROJECT : 

1. The San Narciso Coastal Road Project will exacerbate poverty in our town as we project loss of jobs and income for all sectors in the tourism supply chain from the tourists,  fisherfolk, sari-sari store, flower markets, food suppliers, gas station, transport providers and other sectors benefitting from the tourism industry, should this ugly and needless monstrosity be built. Even the town's major income from bountiful harvests of wild Bangus (milkfish) fry will be negatively affected. Our fisherfolk groups depend on the sale of the bangus fry to provinces such as Pampanga, Bataan, Bulacan and Pangasinan  for their annual income. 

2. The San Narciso Coastal Road Project will STOP sustainable  tourism, a major driver of the economy, a major source of jobs and  income for our town’s sustainable development . Where in the world have one seen a 7-feet elevated road between prime resorts and the sea?  Tourists will no longer visit because they want to experience nature and calmness that our turquoise-colored sea and gorgeous landscape provide. The area where tourists walk barefoot, play volleyball, watch the sunset will no longer be accessible because they will need to go up a couple of stairs and go down to reach the sea. A Coastal highway where heavy vehicles will pass  poses a lot of security hazard for tourists, fisherfolks and residents of the community.  

3. The San Narciso Coastal Road project will destroy our rich biodiversity and cause massive coastal erosion from the construction stage to the completion of the project. 

The Coastal Road designed as a seawall will trigger beach erosion. Waves pounding on a seawall scour the beach and transport sediments farther offshore. Over time, beaches in front of seawalls become narrower and may eventually disappear. Where properties are fronted by seawalls, the beach typically appears only during low tide.[Dr. Fernando Siringan Phd, Ma. Yvainne Y. Sta. Maria, Johanna Camille J. Jordan ) 

The San Narciso Coastal Road will negatively impact on the town’s pollution level, marine resources and critically endangered species that we have been taking care of. Baranggay La Paz has a Pawikan (the critically endangered Lepidochelys Olivacea Sea Turtles)  Conservatory because Pawikans which are endangered species lay eggs on our shores. Other critically endangered species are also found in our ecosystem and will be disturbed once the San Narciso Coastal Road will be built such as the Java Sparrow, Philippine Cockatoo, Great Knot, Far Eastern Curlew, Isabela Oriole, Chinese Egret. Other critically-endangered species that will be negatively impacted are the DENR protected specie called  Cloud Rats found only  in the Zambales Mountain Ranges and Cycas Zambalesis, a plant specie of cycad endemic to Luzon and found on San Antonio, Zambales and Baranggay Cawag in Subic, Zambales. It is also important to note that Baranggay La Paz is home to 136 bird species including two (2) resident Eagles  that could be another major attraction for tourism especially the birdwatchers all over the globe.

We call on Rep. Cheryl Deloso-Montalla and the DPWH to STOP this deleterious project!

Protect the San Narciso local economy and our rich biodiversity!

People's money should be spent for the benefit of the community and the nation!