Ingore residents put road blocks over ‘unpaid’ disturbance fee
Residents of Zone 6, Brgy. Ingore, La Paz, Iloilo City put road blocks over the alleged failure of Global Business Power Corporation (GBPC) to pay them with disturbance fee.
The residents demanded for disturbance fee because they were affected by the ongoing construction of the GBPC’s coal-fired power plant in their village.
Yesterday morning, Zone 6 residents started putting some bamboo poles and other woods to prevent vehicles from going to the plant.
Even deputy general manager Engr. Henry Alcalde failed to get through the barricade.
Instead of alighting from his vehicle, he negotiated to talk to the protesters’ leaders and Brgy. Capt. Ernie Porral at his office.
Six residents and Porral appeared before Alcalde’s office.
But instead of meeting halfway, the residents walked out because of the alleged insult they heard from the GBPC management.
Porral narrated that Alcalde allegedly asked the leaders if they want “watering” or disturbance fee.
By watering, the GBPC will take charge of the road cleaning and spraying of water at the road where trucks and vehicles going to the construction site pass through.
On the other hand, if the residents would opt for disturbance fee, they would be paid but they would be responsible for cleaning their own surroundings from the dust caused by the ongoing construction.
It was gathered that the leaders chose disturbance fee.
“Meaning, the people of Zone 6 would want disturbance fee in exchange for the cleaning of their own surroundings,” Porral said.
But when Alcalde heard this, “Naghambal siya nga kwarta gali ang ila gusto,” the village chief added.
The insulted leaders readily stormed out of the office.
In turn, the road blocks grew by noontime.
But by early afternoon, residents took the barricade, as per appeal from Porral and local policemen.
To resolve the matter, it was gathered that Alcalde asked Porral to write a letter stating the residents’ demand.
It should also be signed by the affected residents.
By Wednesday, Alcalde said that they might come up with a decision based on the residents’ request.
It was learned that GBPC stopped the payment of disturbance fee after several Zone 6 residents allegedly did not comply with the terms of their bargain: clean their own backyard.
Meanwhile, two residents, a certain Rey Wangga and Randy Remano, were arrested after they accosted motorists passing the area.
Police claimed that while they could freely express their sentiments, no one should be coerced from passing the road.
Porral, however, personally went to the police station asking for the duo’s release.
He explained that the two suspects might have gone overboard because of their outburst.
