A non-government organization is opposing the development of a P40-billion reclamation and port project in Davao City.
Ann Fuertes, executive director for the Interface Development Interventions, arm of Ecowaste Coalition, said in a statement the city council did not conduct any public consultations on the project set to be undertaken by Mega Harbour Port.
Fuertes said her group was not consulted about the project, adding they only knew about it after the second reading of the city council.
She asked the city council to hear the group’s side, warning that the project would dislocate residents of Isla Verde.
Isla Verde, which is 123,201 square meters, is covered by Presidential Proclamation 85 signed by then president Joseph Ejercito Estrada declaring the property as a human settlement site.
The barangay has an estimated population of 13,398.
Mega Harbour, which is owned by businessman Reghis Romero II, was pushing for a three-year Davao City coastline and port development project, which involves the reclamation of 200 hectares of offshore area in two districts there.
The Davao Coastline and Port Development Project was expected to undergo another Swiss challenge as the matter is elevated to the agencies of the national government.
The proposal will be put forward to the Philippine Reclamation Authority after the city council passes an ordinance granting then Mayor Rodrigo Duterte the authority to sign a joint venture agreement with the proponent.
A Swiss challenge was organized by the local government in November last year, but no other bid was submitted.
Earlier, the Davao City council has blocked the auction of the P19-billion Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project under the previous administration’s public-private partnership program.
The Sangguniang Panglungsod ng Davao issued a resolution stopping the Sasa port bidding because of “the irregular procedure as well as the various questions raised against the Sasa Port Modernization project now being bid out without prior consultation and expressed approval of the local government as provided for by the Local Government Code.”
The Transportation Department recently prequalified Asian Terminals Inc., International Container Terminal Services Inc., Bollore Africa Logistics, Singapore-based Portek International Pte. Ltd. and San Miguel Corp. for the Davao Sasa Port project.