Bulacan residents urge SMC to reveal relocation ‘master plan’

Residents and fisherfolks who will be affected by the planned P735-billion New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan is urging San Miguel Corp. to disclose the “master plan” for relocation and assurance regarding their livelihood.

“We need concrete details of the airport project and their plan of relocation and construction of a fishermen’s village, not the indistinct promises they throw at us through the media,” Samahan ng mga Mamamayan at Mangingisda sa Latian ng Bulacan (SMB) said on Friday.

The group claimed that the conglomerate has never met with them to discuss plans for the airport project.

“We would not have trooped to the main office of SMC if they had prior engaged with us to discuss the airport project,” SMB said in a statement.

On July 17, residents and fisherfolk led by the group staged back-to-back protests in the main offices of SMC and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They requested for a dialogue with San Miguel.

So far, they are still waiting for confirmation of the dialogue.

Sought for comment, SMC said it has actually visited communities and sitios that will be affected by the project and spent time with local leaders and some of the residents.

“We know that many of them have lived there for years, working as caretakers of fish pens and providing other services. In the communities, we found hard-working, open, friendly people, who have so much hope, and who also have great potential for enterprise,” the company noted in a separate statement.

But SMB claimed it was only Silvertides Holdings—a subcontractor of SMC—that went around Barangay Taliptip to acquire fishponds for the proposed airport project.

Silvertides was awarded an environmental compliance certificate by the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR Region 3 to reclaim over 2,000 hectares of acquired fishponds for land development.

“San Miguel Corporation is committed to making sure that the affected workers of Bulakan, Bulacan— fishpond workers and some fishermen—will have good homes, better living conditions, and more importantly, more capacity to improve their livelihood,” SMC said.

“We are looking forward to engaging them in a more meaningful and formal dialogue soon, so we can discuss the project and more importantly, our plans for them.”

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has awarded the contract to build and operate the P735-billion New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan to conglomerate SMC’s infrastructure unit.

As original project proponent, SMC emerged as winner at the conclusion of a Swiss challenge in the absence of challengers for the unsolicited proposal to build and operate the airport.

SMC said its plans include the relocation of affected residents to a suitable site that takes into consideration their livelihood prospects and future resilience.

“Actually, we have a lot of experience in this area,” the company said.

“SMC has poured billions into building resilient communities for victims of calamities in various provinces nationwide. Capacity-building—to improve livelihood prospects—is also one of our main advocacies. As such, the affected workers of Taliptip can be assured that we will do everything we can to make sure they have a good future,” it added.

SMC said it aims to revive Bulucan’s fishing industry.

“Our vision is to help reinvigorate, develop, and bring back Bulacan’s fishing industry. With a major airport in the province, there’s huge economic potential if this is achieved,” the conglomerate said.

“That is why part of the plan is also to provide affected workers with power boats. It can start with them. As a community, they can help bring about the change they have long hoped for.” —VDS, GMA News