Mayor Al appeals to Sitio Russia folk: Be responsible
IN a bid to avoid what could be a protracted legal battle, Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. is set to go to sitio Russia in Bonuan Binloc on Tuesday to personally persuade the residents there to accept their relocation in order to give way to the construction of a P100-million Seafood Processing Plant.
Fernandez said he will present the plan for the new relocation site in Sitio Bagong Baryo, also in Bonuan Binloc, which is being offered by the city as an alternative to the Gawad Kalinga-Bangusville housing project in Bonuan Gueset.
According to the plan, the new relocation site will be redesigned to incorporate a theme park to help boost tourism in the area.
The proposed site will accommodate the 65 families who will be displaced by the construction of the Seafood Processing Plant.
The alternative relocation site is being offered after residents of Sitio Russia refused to accept the relocation plan to GK-Bangusville, which they complain is too far from their sources of livelihood.
Fernandez is optimistic that he will be able to convince residents to make that ‘sacrifice’ in the name of development, with the promise that those who agree to be relocated would be given first priority for employment once the plant becomes operational.
Representatives of the Korean government were in Dagupan City last week to formally advise the city government of the availability of the grant for the project.
Informed that residents of sitio Russia are still resisting their relocation, Rep. Jose de Venecia Jr. of the Fourth District of Pangasinan, who has been instrumental in pursuing the project, asked the city government to seek the help of Archbishop Oscar Cruz of the Lingayen-Dagupan archdiocese.
He said the influential church leader has indicated his willingness to help since the project will give quantifiable benefits to the city and people.
De Venecia arranged for the financial grant from the Korean government in lieu of a loan that the previous Lim administration sought for the project.—LM
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