HINOBA-AN Mayor Ernesto Estrao said Sunday, January 13, that 30 families who will be affected by the construction of a shipbuilding facility in the town are ready to transfer at the relocation site provided by the Negros Occidental Provincial Government.
Estrao said a total of 247 families are due for relocation to give way to the 282-hectare economic zone in Barangay Bacuyangan which is being eyed by Tsuneishi Heavy Industries for its $300 million shipbuilding facility.
Of the 247 families affected by the development of the economic zone, 150 of them have already signed the contract to avail the relocation site and 30 are already set to transfer once the electrical connection is ready.
"We really look forward to the realization of the project because this will address the employment problem and will certainly boost the economic aspect of our town as well as the neighboring areas," Estrao said.
The mayor cited that Tsuneishi is eyeing to generate 5,000 jobs during its initial operation and up to 10,000 jobs during its full operation.
There are still 21 families who signified not to sign the contract for relocation and we respect their decision, Estrao said.
He said this is one of the pet projects of the Provincial Government which is very beneficial to Hinoba-an
"The Municipal Government is facilitating the transfer of the affected families to the relocation site and we assure them that once the locators proceed the projects those affected will be given priorities for the jobs. They were also extended P45, 000 each, 150-square meter lot for their house and free Tesda (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) training," Estrao added.
He also assured of environmental protection as concerned government agencies like the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) cannot issue the Environmental Compliance Certificate if environmental concerns are not properly addressed.
Some environmentalist groups have been opposing the project.
He further said that the expropriation of the properties concerned was done by the provincial government two years ago.
Municipal building
Meanwhile, Estrao said the construction of the new Hinoba-an Municipal building is almost complete.
They have already transferred to the new building which is worth P25 million “at no cost” to the Municipal Government, Estrao said.
He said the new municipal building is constructed through donations including those from some senators. (TDE)