Thursday, July 17, 2008 Squatter eviction expected due to port reclamation
WHILE "war" is still raging in the countryside of Negros Oriental, another battle is expected if the administration of Mayor Agustin Perdices pushes through with its reclamation project at the Dumaguete City pier area.
The impending battle will be between the City Government and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the other residents in the area called by authorities as "squatters."
Some 300 households and residents at Zones 2 and 4 of the coastal Barangay Looc will be evicted in a 1.5 hectare area that they occupy. The said area will be the subject of the reclamation project to be initiated by the PPA.
It was Mayor Perdices himself who revealed the plan to the members of the media in one gathering at a local restaurant.
Perdices said this will be resorted in order to push through the "much delayed reclamation project" at the Dumaguete port.
The reclamation project will be pushed through amidst expected strong opposition from the residents in the affected barangay and Silliman based environmentalists.
This after PPA port manager Renato Tolinero said that Gelac Construction was already awarded the contract to do the job and after securing the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Tolinero said the work on the P400-million reclamation project is expected to start this year, which the port agency will reclaim 1.5 hectares for additional berthing and storage facility with target completion of 355 calendar days.
Mayor Perdices, on the other hand, stressed that while there might be eviction, he is expected to sit down with PPA representatives to discuss a relocation plan for the residents.
The mayor is requesting the port agency for additional funding and the first to choose the relocation site for the residents in the area. (EBS)
