By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The municipal government of Hinoba-an is now looking for a relocation site for residents who will be affected by the construction of a ship recycling facility, amid the protests from locals and environmental groups in Negros Occidental.
During a weekend interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, Jimwel Caniedo, lead convenor of the Save Hinoba-an Movement, said they are still against the construction of the ship breaking yard owned by Japanese company Tsuneishi Heavy Industries.
Caniedo said the facility will only make the town look like a “garbage bin” for old ships.
He said the building of the facility on 80 hectares of land in the sub-villages of Obong and Salvacion in Barangay Bacuyangan will affect a total of 500 households.
The site is also home to trees and mangroves, which might be cut down once construction starts.
Hinoba-an town Mayor Ernesto Estrao, meanwhile, gave assurances the municipal government will process the needed documents for the relocation site of the affected residents.
He also explained, under present laws, they are not allowed to demolish any houses in the area if there is no relocation site available, adding they will provide livelihood assistance for relocated residents.
He further stressed the project directly comes from the provincial government of Negros Occidental, and as the “father of the town,” he was put in the middle, and doesn’t want to be a victim of criticisms by the local residents.
He also assured the local residents not to be afraid of the project as Tsuneishi is still processing its own documents and permits from various government agencies.
Earlier, the Hinoba-an municipal council approved an ordinance to convert the lands in Sitio Obong and Salvacion from agricultural to industrial.
The Tsuneishi ship breaking facility is also expected to generate an estimated 5,000 new jobs for the municipality./WDJ