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BY RANIE AZUE
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Thursday, October 26, 2017
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BACOLOD City – Several groups staged a protest against the provincial government’s plan to convert agricultural lands in Barangay Bacuyangan, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental into an industrial zone at the capitol yesterday.
The groups, which form an alliance under the Bagong Alayansang Makabayan in Negros Island, include Iglesia Filipina Independiente, Green Alert Negros, and Defend Our Patrimony South Negros, among others.
The alliance – dubbed as the Save Hinoba-an Movement – also has members who are residents of sitios Ubong and Salvacion in Barangay Bacuyangan.
Spokesperson Jimwell Cañedo of Defend Our Patrimony South Negros said the land reclassification is intended to pave way for the construction of the proposed Southern Negros Industrial Estate.
The estate will host the multi-billion ship-breaking and -recycling industry owned by Japanese firm Tsuneishi Heavy Industries, Cañedo added.
The land the provincial government plans to reclassify measures 300 hectares, but about 150 hectares of this area are covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, said Cañedo.
He added that many of the land occupants in the areas were already awarded a certificate of land ownership.
Cañedo said more than 500 households will be directly affected if ever the plan pushes through.
The proposed ship-breaking and -recycling plant will also clear mangrove plantations, most of which are more than 30 years old.
Save Hinoba-an Movement demanded the provincial government to stop any move to eject families, release the memorandum of agreement signed between Negros Occidental governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Japanese investors, hold genuine consultation with residents affected by the plan, reject application for land conversion, and implement genuine land reform./PN
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