BACOLOD City — Some residents of Sicogon Island have renewed their call for the Iloilo provincial government to intervene in the island’s long-delayed tourism development project, citing decades of unfulfilled commitments that have left many families without stable livelihoods.
The appeal came from residents of portions of Barangays Buaya, Alipata, and San Fernando who are members of the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (FESIFFA).
In an interview on February 13 in Bacolod City, FESIFFA chairperson Jether Rigodoz said prolonged delays and unresolved obligations under the joint venture agreement (JVA) between Sicogon Island Development Corporation and Ayala Land, Inc. have continued to affect residents’ access to employment, housing, and economic opportunities.
Rigodoz said the community has been waiting for more than a decade for the promised benefits of development that were expected to improve their quality of life.
“The people of Sicogon have waited for the promised development that would improve their lives. Livelihood and housing are essential so families can send their children to school, have stable income, and enjoy the benefits of progress,” Rigodoz said.
The Sicogon joint venture project, launched in 2010, was envisioned to transform the island into a world-class eco-tourism destination, with commitments to generate jobs, provide resettlement, and implement community development programs for local farmers and fisherfolk.
FESIFFA urged the Iloilo provincial government to step in and assist residents in addressing their immediate needs, particularly livelihood support, while the project remains pending.
Known for its white sand beaches and rich marine biodiversity, Sicogon Island has long been identified as a potential eco-tourism hub in northern Iloilo and Panay Island, but residents said the prolonged delays have hindered the realization of its promised economic benefits./PN
