THREE foreign investors are interested in the Southern Negros Industrial Estate in the municipality of Hinobaan, Mayor Ernesto Estrao said Tuesday, June 25.

Estrao said all these investors are into the shipbuilding business.

This comes after Tsuneishi Heavy Industries of Japan backed out of its plan to build a $300 million ship recycling project in the province’s southernmost town.

The mayor said there are still 18 families left of the 248 inside the 300 hectare industrial estate located in Brgy. Bacuyangan, Hinobaan.

“We will leave it to Governor-elect Eugenio Jose Lacson what his plans are for the Southern Negros Industrial Estate,” Estrao said.

He said he is optimistic that the property will not only bring employment to his town but boost the economy of Negros Occidental.

“I agree with the opinion of incoming Governor Bong Lacson that we must first clear all the legal hurdles before taking it up to investors,” he said.

The remaining families are still waiting for the decision of the court on the compensation due them, he added.

“We respect their position. So it’s a status quo for now,” Estrao said. (TDE)