Toledo coastal barangays dispute pollution claims

Local officials from three coastal barangays in Toledo City have issued a unified rebuttal to claims of marine pollution and health risks linked to industrial activity in the area, calling the accusations “baseless” and made without community consent.

- By Ehda M. Dagooc, Staff Member

In a joint statement, barangay captains from Bato, Cabitoonan, and Awihao rejected recent allegations from several environmental groups, including the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED), Save Tañon Strait Network, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), and LAHAT (Limpyong Hangin Alang sa Tanan). These organizations alleged a decline in marine biodiversity, deteriorating water quality, and increased health concerns among residents in the coastal communities.