Mayor Sitoy slams 3,500-hectare Cordova reclamation proposal

CEBU, Philippines - Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the proposed 3,500-hectare Cordova Reclamation Project proposed by Malayan Integrated Industries Corporation has no place in the town as the people are "strongly opposed to the plan."

Sitoy issued the statement to reporters during his visit to Barangay Pilipog where he was accompanied by his daughter Vice Mayor Therese Sitoy-Cho in the distribution of assistance to fishermen affected by oil spill last year.

Sitoy said the proposal of MIIC, through its president Pablo Villaber, is not new to them saying they have known this for more than 30 years now.

"Dugay na kaayo kining istoryaha bahin sa 3,500-hectare nga reclamation project sa atong lungsod sa Cordova, pero wala gayud kini matawo. Gawas pa, dakong supak ang mga tawo niini," said Sitoy.

Sitoy said the proposed reclamation project is way too big for Cordova.

The mayor said thousands of small fishermen in Cordova will be affected if the proposed reclamation project prospers.

Earlier, Villaber said thousands of residents in Cordova town and neighboring cities will benefit from new jobs with the start of the reclamation project.

Villaber said 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 mao'y 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.

Meanwhile, the municipal government of Cordova, Sitoy said, is still addressing the problems of the town's marine resources by planting more mangroves and livelihood for small fishermen.

"When oil spill hit Cordova town affecting small fishermen, our main concern was on how to help them," Sitoy said.  (FREEMAN)