Achas bucks construction of Petro de Oro marine facility;pushes for prioritization of Oro fisheries code

Minority Floor Leader Councilor Christian Rustico Achas expressed opposition to the proposed resolution, interposing no objection to the application of Petro de Oro Corporation for miscellaneous lease agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 10 to construct its marine facility in Barangay Tablon.

The proposed facility is part of Petro de Oro’s petroleum terminal project whose foreshore lease application was put on hold due to a land reclamation project. The Committee on Subdivision and Landed Estate, however, approved its application to allow the continuous operation of the company.

Councilor Achas expressed alarm amid worries that it may result in economic catastrophe, citing that the prime source of food and livelihood of the fishermen greatly rely on the sea.

“There are more than 3,500 ka mga members aning atong fisherfolks and 80-90% I think, or even almost 100%, dependent sa dagat,” he said.

He added that giving priority to investors may deprive the fishermen of economic activities. He called on the city's legislature during their regular session, presided over by Vice Mayor Bebot Rodriguez, to hear the clamor of the affected sector by giving priority to the Cagayan de Oro Fisheries Code.

With the approval of the fisheries code, the fisherfolks will be given support by the local government for its programs and projects, while protecting their rights and general welfare, he concluded.