A GROUP of farmers is opposing the planned
construction of a ship recycling plant at Sitio Salvacion in Hinobaan town.
Felipe Gelle Jr., advocacy officer of
Magsasaka at Siyentista para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag)-Negros, said
in a press conference Monday at the Negros Press Club office that they are
concerned over the environmental impact in the area once the ship breaking
plant comes into service.
Gelle pointed out the coasts of Hinoba-an and
the neighboring city of Sipalay are rich in marine life, citing that the exact
area where the facility will stand is home to an almost a decade old mangrove
forest.
The group also expressed concern over the
displacement of several communities in the area, who are making a living
through organic farming and fishing.
“The residents are defending the area because
their livelihood, farms, and fishing spots are on the line,” Gelle said.
“We already formed a fact-finding mission to
gather data on the proposed project,” he said.
Last month, Estrao said the proposed ship
recycling facility owned by Balamban, Cebu, based Tsuneishi Heavy Industries
Incorporated will generate almost 3,000 to 5,000 jobs.
Estrao said the site is tagged as an
industrial zone, and was previously owned by Insular Lumber Company.
Aside from the ship recycling facility, there
is also a proposal to build a car recycling plant, a biomass plant, a soybean
oil plant in the area, and reactivate the town’s airstrip, Gelle said.
Source: sun
star. 18 October 2016
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