Villaber visits proposed site of Cordova reclamation plan

CEBU, Philippines - Malayan Integrated Industries Corporation President Pablo Villaber said thousands of residents in Cordova town and neighboring cities will benefit from new jobs with the start of the 3,500-hectare Cordova Reclamation Project.

Together with Chinese contractors, Villaber personally visited Cordova town yesterday and met barangay officials in the town who inquired him on the project’s status.

At the moment, Malayan is waiting for the approval of necessary papers like the environmental compliance certificate to be issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Villaber said that the reclamation project will completely change the economic landscape of the “sleepy” town of Cordova and will make it become a city.

“Ang katumanan sa atong tinguha nga 3,500-hectare reclamation project sa Cordova maoy tubag sa dugay na kaayong gipangandoy nga kalambuan sa atong mga kaigsoonan sa maong lungsod,” said Villaber.

He said big companies like those inside the Mactan Export Zone in Lapu-Lapu City can be housed at the proposed reclamation site.

Villaber also downplayed reports that some Cebu provincial officials are questioning his capability to undertake the humongous project that involves billions of pesos.

Villaber told The FREEMAN that the project had been approved during the time of the late president Ferdinand Marcos and also during the time of former president Fidel Ramos.

The delay in the project’s implementation, he said, could be attributed to the opposition of former Cebu City mayor and former congressman Tomas Osmeña and former Cebu governor Pablo Garcia.

Former Cebu governor Emilio “Lito” Osmeña also opposed the project because they were then working on the Cebu South Reclamation project.

Despite the opposition of the Osmeñas and the Garcia, Villaber said former executive secretary Ruben Torres made his final recommendation to Ramos for its approval. (FREEMAN)