BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved the request of the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corp. (Bredco) to reclaim some 300 hectares of land in the city this year.
The SP passed a Resolution of No Objection (RONO) during its regular session on Wednesday.
Eleven councilors voted “yes” for the RONO. Two councilors – Claudio Jesus Puentevella and Renecito Novero – were out of session. Councilor Ricardo Tan, meanwhile, was still on leave.
The RONO is among the requirements Bredco need to secure for the new reclamation project that needs the approval of Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).
Bredco has reclaimed a 250-hectare lot in Bacolod before, which is now the area where a port is operating.
Councilor Caesar Distrito – chairman of the SP Committee on Laws, Ordinances and Good Government – said they conducted a public hearing before the RONO was passed.
Distrito added that the reclamation project, if approved, will greatly benefit the city – Bredco will get 52.5 percent of the reclaimed land, while the city government and the PRA will share the remaining 47.5 percent.
Bredco president Jon Alonte said they plan to invest about P24 billion for the proposed project.
Alonte added that they “have several ideas” for the features of the project, like facilities for a business district or an export processing zone, all aimed at attracting more investments in Bacolod./PN
