The fate of the Panglao reclamation project has betrayed the anti-investment bias of the provincial government. This was the statement issued by a prominent businessman who declined to be identified because he is doing business with the provincial government.  “With the way the project proponent is being treated, any investor worth his salt will think twice about investing his hard-earned money here,” the businessman noted. Asked to elaborate on his statement, the businessman said it is sad that the project is being pictured in all the negative light “even before it can begin”. He pointed out that the project and its proponents are already being demonized just because there are people within the provincial government who are opposed to the project.

“If you are sincere about inviting investors, you have to show them a lot of respect no matter how you feel about them or their proposed investments,” he added. The businessman said that the proper thing to do would have been to allow the conduct of the environmental study to settle the issue of the project's supposed threat to the environment “once and for all”. Instead, he said the project is being subjected to a trial by publicity by people who are obviously declared enemies of the project. In addition to it, he said the project proponent is being demonized in a hate campaign that makes him look like an offender instead of an investor. “Who would like that to happen to him?” the businessman asked. He said that while he understands that there is politics involved in the issue, he also pointed out that it is not assuring to any would-be investor.

“Anybody can just label you as a political ally or financier of a local politician and it is the end of the road for you,” he noted. The businessman said he does not really care if the project pushes through or not but he is definitely concerned about the message that this is sending to the business community particularly out-of-town investors. “There is the possibility of your project being approved by one administration and then persecuted by the next on the mere suspicion of political ties,” he added. He said this is what is happening to the project proponent of the reclamation project. “Whether it is true or not, it sends a chilling message to a potential investor that this can happen to you as well,” he added. The source said this could be one reason why there are very few out-of-town investors in spite of the business potentials in Bohol .

“There is the very real fear that you could end up in the middle of clashing political forces like what the reclamation proponent is in,” he added. The businessman said that while business appears to be on the upswing in Bohol , it mostly involves the locals who know their way around.  “The only outsiders who are determined to come in are those who are made of sterner stuff, those who will not be bullied and pushed around,” he added. The businessman said that investors do not really care who is in power as long as their investments are respected, if not protected. “The survival of their business is always the bottom line,” he added.