By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — Unless the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) secures a relocation site for informal settlers at the Banago port, 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez said he will go against the port’s development.
The PPA, which operates the port in Brgy. Banago, plans to develop the gateway. But the initiative is seen to displace about 200 informal settlers surrounding the port.
Benitez, chair of the House committee on urban and housing development, yesterday inspected the port and spoke with the residents.
“I will oppose the port development plans of the PPA if there is no concrete plan where to relocate the informal settlers,” said Benitez.
He said the informal settlers that could be displaced by a development project should be the responsibility of any government agency behind the project.
Contrary to what PPA manager Enrique Fuentebaja earlier said, what to do with the informal settlers should not be left to the local government, said Benitez.
“They (PPA) should not wash their hands,” the solon stressed.
Benitez said the PPA cannot undertake any project without considering the condition of the informal settlers.
“Any government project should be sensitive to the needs of the constituents affected,” the congressman said.
Benitez said the PPA should coordinate with the local government to address the issue with informal settlers.
“Our committee will make sure that the welfare of the informal settlers would be taken care of before any port development program is approved,” he stressed.
Accompanying him were House committee members Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod City, Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod, Ibarra Gutierrez of Akbayan and Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol, and National Housing Authority assistant general manager Froilan Kampitan./PN
