By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao is hopeful the industrial zone located in his municipality will be widened, following the town council’s multi-agency consultative meeting last Thursday.
The said meeting was attended by various government agencies.
In an interview yesterday, Estrao said he plans on expanding the town’s industrial zone to 282 hectares, which will cover the coastal barangays of the municipality.
When implemented, Estrao assured no trees in the area would be cut down, except for some mangroves.
Previously, Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Corporation announced plans to build a ship breaking facility within the industrial zone.
The plan, however, is being protested by local environmentalists and residents who are concerned over the environmental impact of the facility.
Estrao, meanwhile, claimed the project would generate over 5,000 jobs, adding the town’s local government will prioritize the establishment of the project./WDJ