Achas bats to include public plazas in planned reclamation areas

COUNCILOR Christian Rustico M. Achas on Monday proposed that the city government should also include establishment of parks and public spaces in future reclamation projects of the city government.

This was manifested by the councilor during the 14th regular session presided over by Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez, in relation to the enactment of ordinance authorizing City Mayor Rolando A. Uy to apply for land reclamation expansion covering the coastal areas of Barangays Lapasan, Gusa, Cugman and other coastal barangays in the city to be used as industrial, mix-commercial, residential, economic zone, light manufacturing, food processing, and business processing outsourcing.

“There are barangays in the coastal areas nga wala gyud sila’y recreation area,” Achas said.

He cited that the city should allocate areas intended for public use such as parks and public spaces along coastal areas for the benefit of the barangays.

“…intended pud sa mga tao nga gusto sad magpahangin sa baybay ug ang mga barangay pud nga naa sad sila’y coastal plaza”, Councilor Achas pointed out.

In response, Councilor George S. Goking said: “It has to be approved kung unsay buhaton sa reclamation area… ang atong capital lang gyud is the ordinance”.

Goking recalled that the late Lorenzo Limketkai offered 20-percent share of the total reclaimed area to the city.

He expressed hopes that the City Council will review related ordinances, citing that the Philippine Councilor’s League (PCL) is offering to help the city find investors in the reclamation project under the Public-Private Partnership scheme.