THE House committee on housing and urban development headed by Third District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez of Negros Occidental and the committee on transportation headed by Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento will conduct a site inspection of the Banago Port in Bacolod City on July 2.
They will be joined by Abang Lingkod Representative Stephen Paduano and Bacolod City Representative Evelio Leonardia.
Paduano visited Banago last week and learned of the possibility that some residents will face dislocation due to the proposed port development once the port zone delineation sought by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) pushes through.
The project may affect four puroks not only Purok Nami-nami, he said.
Purok Nami-Nami starts from the entrance of Banago going to the port area.
He also said that there is a pending resolution in Congress calling for an inquiry on the status of the PPA ports in the whole country.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella said there is a need to thoroughly study the proposed port zone delineation considering its reclamation feature.
The mayor said he has reservations on this because many people will be affected by the port development project.
"I was surprised to learn about the reclamation feature. If there is, why will the city allow the PPA to reclaim it? PPA generates a revenue of P30 million a year for doing nothing. It does not even give a share to the city, not even 50 percent,” he pointed out.
Puentevella said city owns the property and they are considering the creation of the Bacolod City Port Authority.
“The city deserves to regulate these operations," he added. (CNC)