Ebdane cracks down on illegal coastal builds

IBA, Zambales — Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. is cracking down on construction in coastal areas marked as danger zones in Zambales.

In a live report on 14 August, Ebdane said he is directing mayors of coastal towns to be strict when issuing business permits, ensuring all procedures are properly followed.

“Before any construction is done on the site, they must have the land title and the business permit. No title, no building permit, no business permit,” he emphasized. “We’re not doing this as a reaction, but to protect people from harm.”

His remarks come after heavy rains recently damaged several structures along the Zambales coastline. Last month, resorts in Barangay Liwliwa, San Felipe, were destroyed by coastal erosion. Some blamed dredging in the province’s three river systems for the damage.

But the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) clarified that coastal erosion was already happening before the dredging, noting that much of Zambales’ coastline was once part of the sea before the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.

According to Governor Ebdane, areas that were previously underwater are now considered danger zones. He explained that shoreline changes over the decades have created unstable land:

“Way back in 1977, the shoreline near the Sto. Tomas River was closer to the road. By 2004, accretion from lahar had extended it by half a kilometer. By 2024, the accretion reached one and a half kilometers. But these are danger zones,” he said.

Ebdane added that many of these areas are illegally occupied. “Anything illegally acquired should not be given the necessary permits to operate,” he said.

While the government has prohibited access to these zones, controlling entry has been difficult due to both local residents and outside investors moving in. The governor’s new directive aims to prevent further damage and protect lives along Zambales’ vulnerable coastline.