BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Committees on Environment, and Laws and Ordinances, will schedule a committee inquiry along with local and national agencies concerned and a representative from the Mayor’s Office on the compliance to regulations of a reclamation project in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago Bacolod City.
The matter was raised by Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr., in a resolution requesting the Bacolod City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-NIR regional director Charlie Fabre, Philippine Reclamation Authority assistant general manager for Reclamation, and Regulation Office Joseph John Literal to investigate the project being undertaken by former councilor Vladimir Gonzalez.
The resolution stated that the Bacolod Reclamation Gateway Corp. (BREGCO), is linked to the family of Gonzalez. Gonzalez claimed that the Bacolod Reclamation Gateway Corp. secured from the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod a Resolution of no objection for the proposed 247-hectare reclamation and port project in Brgy. Banago, it added.
While dubbed a reclamation project, Gonzalez previously described activities at a site in Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago as recovery activity of his private property, the resolution said.
Former Mayor Alfredo Benitez had issued a cease and desist notice, referring to the simple embankment using filling materials and slope protection activities made by Home Invest Realty Venture on the property at Purok Bayanihan, Barangay Banago, it added.
Meanwhile, Councilor Dindo Ramos inhibited himself from participating in the committee inquiry, being a former legal counsel of Gonzalez. (Chrysee Semillano via tvds)