Fisherfolk and urban poor groups raise alarm upon receiving reports that the initial proposed 247-hectare reclamation project in Brgy. Banago now plans to reclaim 621-hectares of coastline.

The groups were notified upon furnishing a copy of a letter dated January 17 written by the Public-Private Partnership for the People Selection Committee (P4-SC) addressed to Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) to grant Bacolod City Mayor Albee Benitez authority to file an application with the Philippine Reclamation Authority for the said project.

The letter also reveals that Mayor Benitez himself has accepted the “unsolicited proposal of Bacolod Reclamation and Gateway Corporation (BRGC) for ‘The Gateway Project’” as per a Resolution dated December 27, 2022.

“The City of Bacolod and BRGC is proceeding with Stage Two – Detailed Negotiations,” the letter states, with BRGC being conferred with original proponent status.

“We felt betrayed as it seems the SP and the Mayor is conspiring against our small fisherfolks and the urban poor of Banago,” Berlita Ante of Kadamay Negros said, adding that such developments on the project were made on the sly and made without any public consultation.

According to fisherman Albert Bocado of the local chapter of PAMALAKAYA in Brgy. Banago, as many as 6,000 families will be affected in the barangay alone. He foresees that the number will increase as the 621-hectares might reach as far as neighboring barangays.

The SP had previously passed a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) last August 17 for the then 247-hectare project, which was met with criticism from coastal communities and fisherfolks. (Read: Banago residents launch anti-reclamation alliance)

Residents had been alarmed about trucks being sent to pour rocks toward the shoreline in Purok Sibucao, eyeing suspicion that the reclamation project was ongoing without acquiring the necessary permits from the barangay nor concerned government offices.

Councilor Vladimir Gonzales, who owns BRGC, had denied this. Instead, he claimed the operations were only recovering eroded portions of his property. Due to public pressure, the operations had been temporarily halted.

The Banago Against Reclamation Movement (BARM) will hold a forum this Sunday, January 29, to inform the residents of such developments and to discuss possible actions to oppose the project.