Environment protection and sustainable development are paramount considerations in the efforts of the local government to usher economic growth and uplift the lives of the city’s residents. This holds true to the proposed 420-hectare reclamation projects along the city’s coast, according to Bacoor City Mayor Lani Revilla.
The city is a consistent recipient of the Seal of Good Local Governance from the Department of the Interior and Local Government bagging its fifth consecutive SGLG in November last year.
“The SGLG award symbolizes the locality’s integrity and good performance through continuing governance reform and sustained local development, a progressive assessment system adopted by the DILG to give distinction to remarkable local government performance across several areas,” the Interior department said.
Environmental management, along with financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, peace and order, business-friendliness, competitiveness, tourism promotion and development, as well as cultural heritage promotion and conservation, were among the key criteria for the SGLG.
Last month, Bacoor also received the 2019 Environmental Compliance Audit Gold Award for its performance in accordance with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte for the cleanup of Manila Bay.
Revilla said the development projects, which integrate environmental protection measures, are expected to provide Bacoor with an additional P1.8-billion annual revenues from tourism activities alone and create about 700,000 jobs for its residents and the entire province of Cavite as well.
The city mayor announced during the public hearing held last month that aside from creating new jobs the proposed projects incorporate in-city relocation, assuring the directly impacted informal settler families and fishermen against dislocation of job or livelihood.
The in-city relocation and job generation component of the project adhere to key strategies the National Economic Development Authority identified under its Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan, which includes “upgrading informal settlement through access to safe, affordable, and formal housing with access to basic services and economic opportunities.”
Under the proposed projects, affected ISFs would be relocated in “Ciudad Kaunlaran” in Molino II, where a livelihood center will be established.
On the other hand, Fisherman’s Village would be built in Barangay Alima for the affected fisherfolks. A wharf will be developed along the coast for their fishing activities, the press statement said.
Revilla said the city government would bring to the resettlement sites its “institutionalized Alagang Ate Lani” program, which includes various forms of social services, including job fairs and free livelihood skills training.
Bacoor’s Public Employment Service Office continuously provides the city’s residents with available job opportunities for both local and overseas employment.
For instance, it scheduled for this month a local recruitment activity for the staffing of a popular appliance center.
Earlier, it held a Special Recruitment Activity for job opportunities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar., the statement said.
According to the NEDA, availability of jobs and economic opportunities would go a long way in “reducing the motivation of people to live in informal settlements.”