Emotionally charged residents of Barangay Magatas in Sibulan, Negros Oriental, lambasted provincial and local government officials, calling them “insensitive” to their concerns over the re-channeling of the Okoy River .

A public hearing called by Magatas officials yesterday afternoon failed when a resident, Eduardo Orcullo, raised his voice and interrupted provincial legal officer Erwin Vergara in the middle of his speech.

Vergara was invited to the hearing to explain the re-channeling project jointly undertaken by the province, Sibulan municipal government and Barangay Magatas to prevent a repeat of the disastrous flooding incidents on Feb. 7 and July 31.

Orcullo said what had irked him most was when Vergara said that the project would continue despite opposition from some quarters.

“You can't do anything. We will continue this (project) whether you like it or not,” Vergara said.

Orcullo stood up and started ranting at Vergara and even when other residents and barangay officials tried to calm him down his outburst continued.

Vergara walked out of the hearing.

Rolando Cataylo, Lorcelie Divinagracia and other residents opposing the involvement of private quarry operators in the project joined Orcullo in hurling accusations against Vergara and other government officials, claiming that the re-channeling project has further endangered their lives and property instead.

They said they are not opposed to the re-channeling of the Okoy River but to what they perceive as unabated and uncontrolled extraction of aggregates from it.

Many of those objecting were from Puroks 2, 3 and 4 of Barangay Magatas, and barangay council member Edgar Ablir, who said they want a clear dividing line between simple re-channeling and allowing the private contractors to haul rocks, boulders and aggregates from the river.

Vergara had told the residents earlier the dangers if the re-channeling project was delayed or stopped.

Provincial officials, including Gov. Emilio Macias II, have repeatedly explained that, due to the absence of heavy equipment and the lack of funds to subsidize the costly re-channeling project, they had to make a special arrangement with private quarry operators.

A joint monitoring group had been formed to ensure that private quarry firms would not go beyond the bounds of the agreement.

Orcullo and his group expressed fears that their concerns would not be heard by government officials and they have a “lost cause”.

But, Vergara stressed, there are proper venues, such as the court, that would be an option for the residents to air their grievances. He told Magatas officials later that it was their responsibility to educate and inform their constituents about the benefits of the project.*JFP

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