Militant groups hit river project

ILOILO CITY, Philippines  — While the city government is gearing for the development of Iloilo River with the holding of the 1st International River Summit this May 30 in the city, representatives from different cause-oriented groups under the Bayan Muna umbrella have criticized the move of the LGU on the Iloilo River Development Project.

Their objections against the project were raised during the People’s Forum on Rivers held at UP Visayas last week, led by Lean Porquia of Bayan Muna.

At least 100 people from the groups Kadamay, Karapatan, Pamanggas, Kabataan, PCPR, Help-Panay, Gabriela, Anak Pawis, Madia-as Anakbayan, KMP-National, Kaisog, CRC, Courage, ACT-Panay, Makabayan, UCCP, Makabayan, Pamalakaya-Capiz, Bayan-Aklan and Nagkakaisa (members affected by the project) have attended the forum.

Porquia clarified they were not against with the development but they objected to the way the city government do it, considering that about 4,000 families would be displaced from their abodes along the river.

Porquia also cited that the two relocation sites, Brgy Lanit in Pavia and Brgy So-oc in Mandurriao, are unfavorable to the affected families because these are frequently flooded and offer no jobs to them.

The groups will be holding protest actions during the May 30 summit, and on May 31 and June 1, to show their condemnation of the city’s move on the project.  (FREEMAN)