Consolacion mayor defends reclamation project

CEBU, Philippines —  Consolacion Mayor Joannes Alegado said the documents regarding the proposed 235.8-hectare reclamation project in Tayud have already been submitted to various government agencies for scrutiny and approval.

This was his response to criticisms and doubts that the La Consolacion Seafront Development Corp, consortium that would undertake the project, is not capable to do so.

Edward Ligas, former commissioner of the Presidential Commission on the Urban Poor, earlier raised doubts on the firm’s capacity to undertake the project, citing Security and Exchange Commission records where it was shown to have only a P10 million capital investment as of October 13, 2019.

Ligas, who has been helping the about 2,000 workers of the six shipyards affected by the project, said they tried to ask for documents from the municipal government, including a copy of the proposed joint venture agreement of the municipality with LCSD, the notice of award of contract, and an ordinance supporting the project, but the municipal government did not allegedly give them.

The project is in partnership with the municipal government.

Alegado, for his part, explained that the project is still not yet on its implementation phase. He said the project is still on its way to a “full and thorough study and deliberation by the responsible government departments where it all rightfully belong.”

“We have regarded and honored these institutions and carefully valued their positions or stand to any information that were completely given to them. It must not be influenced from any outside forces, moreso by any personality’s self-interest,” Alegado told The FREEMAN.

Former mayor and incumbent Vice Mayor Teresa Alegado said that the Seafront City project is an undertaking between the municipality of Consolacion and LCSDC that has not seen its fruition as of yet.

“As of this writing, the project is still in the process of obtaining necessary clearances. We know that their agenda is to stop this project for selfish reason, even to the extent of dragging some people not true representative of the sector they are claiming but for economic needs. Not fathoming the intentions of the inviting parties, these people are very restive,” the vice mayor said.

“But somehow, let me just tell those parties just do your job and we will also do ours,” she added.

The vice mayor said they explained to the affected individuals and entities that since they do not have the rights and personality to occupy the town’s waters anymore, then “let the people of Consolacion also enjoy and make use of the place.”

This way, she said, the general welfare of the greater may be benefited.

“This is the future of our people. We are elected to serve, plan, and leave something for our growing population. But these expired occupants still want to cling to Consolacion area due to selfishness,” the vice mayor added.

Nevertheless, some of the locators, she said, understood the position of the municipal government.

She said that the proposed reclamation is a PPP (public-private partnership) project for a mixed commercial, industrial, institutional, and tourism development which the town needs for its economic growth.

The project is expected to complement the rapid migration issues due to the overflow in the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Lapu-Lapu. — JMD (FREEMAN)