By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Hinoba-an Mayor Ernesto Estrao yesterday revealed three foreign investors have expressed interest in the town’s Southern Negros Industrial Estate. The development comes after Japanese firm Tsuneishi Heavy Industries withdrew plans to build a $300 million ship-recycling project in the area.
The mayor noted the latest investors are all involved in the ship-building industry.
He also acknowledged the 18 families occupying portions of the 300-hectare industrial estate, which is located in the municipality’s Barangay Bacuyangan.
“I agree with the opinion of [Negros Occidental Governor-elect Jose Eugenio Lacson] that we must first clear all the legal hurdles before [leaving] it up to investors,” Estrao noted.
The remaining families are still waiting for a court decision regarding compensation, he added.
Green Alert Network-Negros Island and its allied organizations earlier opposed the proposed facility, claiming 15,000 mangroves would be cut down to pave the way for the project. In addition, they said coral, sea grass, and the livelihoods of the community would also be affected.
Estrao also lamented on the loss thousands of job opportunities if the project does not push through; however, in response to the promise of new jobs, the environmentalist group said, “This can only promise us a cheap-paying job in tough and dangerous conditions.”
They also noted, citing research regarding ship-recycling yards in other countries, workers and the public are often exposed to health and environmental hazards./DGB, WDJ