Cordova blocks firm’s proposal to reclaim municipal waters

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Provincial Board Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy yesterday said the Municipality of Cordova has already considered the proposal of a company to reclaim the town waters as abandoned and forfeited for failure to implement the project for more than 30 years now.

Sitoy, who served as Cordova mayor for three terms, said the town will no longer honor the proposed reclamation project of Malayan Integrated Industries Corp.

The provincial board member showed to reporters a copy of Resolution No. 028-11-08 of the Municipal Council duly signed by Mayor Adelino Sitoy, his father.

The resolution stated that reports of the continued selling or assigning of certain interests or portions of the project to various entities without the knowledge of the municipality and without any effort to start the project is a deliberate attempt to short-change the interest of the municipality right at the outset.

He criticized the technical and financial capability submitted by the company’s president and chairman of the board, Pablo Villaber.

Sitoy was reacting to the claim of Villaber that he has documents to prove that he is authorized by Malacañang to do reclamation works in Cordova.

“Mr. Villaber appears to be in a time warp, he is no longer updated with the realities of the time,” Sitoy said.

Villaber failed the same attempt during the time of former governor Pablo Garcia, he said.

The former mayor of Cordova assured that Villaber will not succeed in his reclamation project during the term of Gov. Hilario Davide III.

Sitoy said he is hoping that Villaber will attend the PB’s regular session on Monday for him to enlighten the provincial officials about the Cordova Reclamation and Development Project.

“I expect him to be honest to the people of Cordova and not make them confused and give false hope,” Sitoy said.

Villaber had also claimed that the decision denying Malayan’s contract was reversed by former president Joseph Estrada, following the firm’s motion for reconsideration.

The document was reportedly signed by then executive secretary Ronaldo Zamora.  (FREEMAN)