City Council seek to resolve issues in proposed Jacana Fishport

City Councilor Luis Marcaida III, who chaired the committee on laws and rules of the said that they seek the help of the national government, specifically the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which through a resolution, they requested them to conduct an inspection to the proposed site, where the fish port project will be constructed.

He explained that the proposed project has no endorsement yet from the city council for their SEP and ECC application.

Last month the city’s anti-squatting arm, DAPSASS issued notices to vacate to 44 houses that will be affected by the project. But residents insist that while they are willing to cooperate with the city government but they need relocation.

“Nag aaral pa po ang mga anak naming. Sana mapagbigyan ang aming mga kahilingan,” one of the affected residents said, who requested not to be named.

Alex Hermoso, head of DAPSASS said that while they are scheduled to start the demolition of 43 or 44 houses that will be affected by the project, they need to postpone it.

“Ipagpaliban muna ang demolition,” he confirmed.

Marcaida assured the informal settlers who are subject for demolition that the city government will do its part to help these affected individuals.

“Kasama sa role ng city na mag relocate sa mga maapektuhan. We will pass a resolution for the temporary stoppage of the project hangga’t wala silang permit na pinapakita,” he said.

Barangay officials of Bancao-bancao headed by Punong Barangay Gayjun Dangan assailed the project’s contractor for some lapses, including some basic details of the project like the program of work that was not presented to us.

“Kung may ma-displaced ka? Dapat may may sagot ka,” Punong Barangay Dangan said, emphasizing that if there are several households that will be disturbed by this project, they should be transferred to somewhere.

“The design ay hindi presented sa council. Hinahanapan namin ng mga permits on process pa daw. Wala kaming kontra sa development pero dapat sa tamang proseso lang po. Ang Jacana TODA, mangingisda, estudyante, apektado sa pagsasagawa ng proyekto kasi dadaan sa putikan ang mga estudyante, dadaan sa putikan, mangingisda,” Kagawad Jr Garcia of Bancao-Bancao said.

During the committee meeting, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR informed that few months ago, their personnel inspected the site and they found out that damage caused by the project’s initial activities are obvious. She said that contractor will be issued with Notice of Violation (NOV).

“Kahit maka-comply na sila (in the future) ay hindi sila exempted sa penalty,” EMB PEMU head Mercedita Almorfe said.