Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mayor stays neutral on cement factory issue
SIBONGA Mayor Lionel Bacaltos remains “neutral” on the town residents’ opposition to the planned establishment of a cement factory.
A neophyte local chief executive, Bacaltos said he still has to evaluate the facts surrounding matter, which was signed by the previous mayor last June yet.
“It is unfair for investors if residents oppose (for the sake of opposing). But I will also listen to the sentiments of the people because what I aim for is the betterment of my town,” Bacaltos said in an interview over the telephone.
A public hearing was held yesterday for the project.
Bacaltos said it would be up to the experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from Manila, who came to Sibonga yesterday afternoon, to determine the project’s social acceptability.
Preparation
“I will wait for the results, I will talk to them because I have not been involved in the preparation for this, having been signed by the previous mayor,” he added.
Last February, the United Sibonga Residents for Environmental Protection and Development (USREPD) sent to Sun.Star Cebu a statement against the planned establishment of a cement factory in Barangay Sabang.
The group fears that the construction of the factory may lead to the destruction of the natural resources of the town and affect the health of the residents.
At that time, then Sibonga mayor Nestor Ponce had assured residents that he will carefully study the proposal before acting on it.
The group of residents asked Ponce in a letter to treat the proposed project with “much caution” and inform the residents of whatever negative effects of having a cement factory in their place. (JPM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 29, 2007 issue)
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