Residents are opposing a planned 150-hectare reclamation project that could displace 5,000 families in Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, Jason Atillo, convenor of the Banago Against Reclamation Movement, said Monday, February 27.
The group of contractor Jerry Sy is asking the SP to issue a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) for its 150-hectare reclamation project.
Atillo was among the Banago residents and officials who attended a Committee on Environment hearing chaired by Councilor Claudio “Kalaw” Puentevella at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) session hall at the Bacolod City Government Center.
No representatives of the Sy group were at the hearing. Puentevella said his committee will also hear the side of the proponents.
Atillo said they are asking the SP to deny the request for a RONO.
The reclamation project would dislocate residents and deprive them of their livelihood as many of them are fishermen, Atillo said.
Banago Barangay Ricky Mijares said the barangay Banago officials are also opposing the reclamation project.
The proponents have not presented their project to the barangay, they want to know that their plans are, Mijares said.
The officials of barangays 1 and 2 were also present at the hearing because they are also concerned that the project could affect the livelihood of their constituents, he said.
Aside from the Sy project a public private partnership is also being planned with Bacolod Reclamation Gateway Corp. of the family of Councilor Vladimir Gonzales involving the reclamation of more than 248 hectares.*