Mayor Sitoy slams group’s protest

CEBU, Philippines - Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy slammed a group for staging a protest action rather than personally directing to him their concerns on an ongoing reclamation in Barangay Gabi.

The mayor was referring to the Pundok sa Nagpakabana sa Natad sa Kalikupan whose 20 members turned to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Cebu City with their placards on Tuesday to express their opposition to the project.

"Ngano anha man sila mag-rally sa laing lugar, ari sila dinhi (sa Cordova)… motungtung sila didto sa project," Sitoy told reporters at the sidelines of the Bottom-up Budget Meeting among local government units with Department of Budget and Management  Secretary Florencio Abad in Sotogrande Hotel in Barangay Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City.

Jojo Daquis, the group's leader, claimed that the reclamation project was not covered by a permit and will affect fishermen as it will allegedly destroy mangroves in the area.

Daquis also said someone informed them that a businessman implementing the project in the barangay has the "support of a certain politician."

But Sitoy belied reports that the reclamation is unsanctioned by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

He added that majority of the fisherfolk who rallied on Tuesday were not from Cordova but reportedly from Lapu-Lapu City.

"Basin politiko ang nagpaluyo ana nila," Sitoy said.

The reclamation project in Barangay Gabi is said to pave way for a Roll-on, Roll-off port. — (FREEMAN)