MISAMIS Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente Emano expressed concerns Friday over the proposed naval base in Tagoloan, saying he was not consulted during the planning stages and will closely review the project.
Emano said he will scrutinize the plan, especially if it poses security risks to the municipality.
“Kung ang iyang gamit sa pag depensa sa pirata, pagdepensa sa atong kadagatan, maayo,” said Emano.
“Pero kung mahimo sya nga target na hinoon sa mga kaatbang kung dunay mahitabo nga pag gubat, murag dili siguro maayo nga magpadool ta sa kagubot,” Emano added.
Emano plans to meet with Phividec Industrial Authority Administrator Donato ‘Cid’ Bernedo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro to discuss the proposal.
Tagoloan Mayor Nadya Emano-Elipe echoed Emano’s concerns, saying she was also not formally informed about the plan.
“Wala pa gyud ko na ignan,” she said, adding that she only heard about the project through media reports.
“Premature pa ko mag react. First, I don’t know asa ibutang. How big is the area? Kinsa’y magpadagan? Maghulat sa ko nga doolan ko. Tan awon sa nako unsa gyud ang plano,” Emano-Elipe said.
Defense Secretary Teodoro previously mentioned the plan to establish a major naval base in Misamis Oriental during his visit to Lumbia Air Base in November, which was confirmed by Bernedo.
