ADDRESSING SICOGON ISSUES. Iloilo Governor Artur Defensor Jr. (in peach colored polo, facing the screen) listens to the issues and concerns of local government officials of Carles town, property developer Ayala Land Inc., and residents and stakeholders in Sicogon Island on Monday (Oct. 22, 2019) during an ad hoc meeting at the Governor’s Boardroom. Defensor said he will visit the island to get the real situation as livelihood of locals had suffered from the suspension of development activities of Ayala Land. (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. is set to visit the well-known Sicogon island in Carles town, Iloilo due to reports that livelihood of locals suffered from the suspension of development activities of Ayala Land Inc. (ALI).
The Iloilo provincial government has also vowed to help the island which reportedly has been confronted with multiple issues and concerns.
Defensor listened to the concerns of the local government unit, Sicogon residents and stakeholders, and ALI during the ad hoc meeting at the governor’s boardroom on Monday.
In an interview, Defensor told reporters that he will personally visit the island to know the real situation. He did not give any definite date of his visit.
He said Sicogon island is part of the big plans of the province to boost its tourism industry.
Last March 6, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ordered Ayala Land to stop development activities in a disputed parcel of land being claimed by farmers.
This has affected the income and livelihood of thousands of residents and workers, the governor said during the meeting.
“There are issues that the Sicogon wants help because the livelihood of the people and the overall development of the island are affected,” he said.
Peace and order situation and solid waste management on the island are also problematic, Defensor said.
In a separate interview, Carles Mayor Siegfredo Betita said the island had suffered for more than a year now.
The suspension of the operations of the resorts and airport has a “domino effect” on the people, he said.
“Unlike in the past that there were tourists visiting here and our people find livelihood in construction (of establishments), transportation, and businesses,” he said.
Sales of convenience stores on the island have dropped to 80 percent while trips of motorized bancas ferrying passengers and tourists from Estancia town dropped from eight to three a day, he said.
“We will find time to discuss with the residents, (and) know their sentiments. The province has a direction that we have to present to them,” he said.
Defensor said the provincial government will “find a good settlement on the issues that confront the island” to boost tourism and other sectors affected by the suspension of operations of ALI.
Meanwhile, ALI has assured that it has complied with the order of the DAR.
“All our contractors pulled out, all hotels are not operating at the moment,” Ryan Ybanez, general manager of the ALI-controlled Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corp. (SITEC) said.
Ybanez said ALI also looks at the impact of the suspension on the locals. (PNA)
