More than 80 purok and barangay leaders, church people, human rights advocates, and concerned citizens attended the launching of Banago Against Reclamation Movement (BARM), an alliance against the various reclamation projects that threaten the residents of Barangay Banago, Bacolod City last September 10 at the Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish.

Former Bayan Muna congressman and current chair of Human Rights Alliance in Negros (HRAN) Pete Pico discussed the position paper deploring Councilor Vladimir Gonzales’ proposed 247-hectare reclamation project in Barangay Banago, which was submitted to Mayor Albee Benitez, the Sangguniang Panglunsod, and other concerned government agencies.

Pico asserted the project would displace 6,000 families and rob them of their livelihood, be destructive to existing marine life, and is illegal as it lacks the necessary permits from Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR), Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), among others.

Pico also slammed the Resolution of No Objection (RONO) passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Bacolod City, claiming it was “arbitrary” and did not follow the constitutional procedures.

He also questioned the transparency of the proponent, Bacolod Reclamation Gateway Corp owned by Councilor Gonzales himself, as it lacks the necessary data and a clear demarcation of its scope.

PAMALAKAYA Negros Chairperson Ben Fernandez discussed the history of reclamation projects, which dates back to Marcos Sr.

He explained that the Philippines is the “coral triangle of the world” due to its archipelagic nature and cites a BFAR study which claims only 25% of the corals have survived due to various projects, among which are reclamations.

He added reclamation projects also hasten the effects of climate change and thus must be rallied against.

Fr. Jexon A. Davao of Nuestra Señora de Salvacion Parish – Banago also slammed the proposed reclamation project as it will “be destructive to God’s natural resources and mankind.”

A representative of the Barangay Captain Ricky Mijares gave a solidarity message and asserted his firm stance against the proposed 247-hectare reclamation.

Various representatives of fisherfolk associations gave their testimonies of how the proposed projects will affect their livelihood and communities.

A fisherfolk from Purok Himulaton also told the story of how his child almost drowned in a creek beside their house, where an ongoing reclamation project is being made to pave way for an esplanade.

Convenors for BARM were named:  Purok leaders Juvy S. Montecalbo, Rogelio S. Attilo Jr., Virgie Poja, Alberto Bucado , Gloria Tablason , Elizabeth Dela Cruz, Carmelita Diamante, and Vincent Fernandez of PAMALAKAYA Negros, Fr. Jexon A. Davao of Banago Parish, and Pete Pico of Human Rights Alliance in Negros.

BARM will launch a signature campaign, aiming for 1000 signatures by the end of the week, which will then be passed to the Philippines Reclamation Authority (PRA.)