FURTHER DELAYED. The people of Casiguran have been awaiting NEDA’s decision on Apeco for nearly five months. File Photo by Christie K. Lim.

IN RESPONSE to the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) delayed review of the Aurora-Pacific Economic Zone (Apeco), the Casiguran farmers, fisher folk and indigenous people marched back to Manila, gathering on Tuesday, April 30 in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

The review in question was the compromise offered by President Benigno Aquino III to appease the Casiguran marchers last December 2012.

However, after receiving no reply after four months, the Casiguran marchers decided to press the issue, sending economist Winnie Monsod, Atty. Chris Monsod, Fr. Xavier “Javy” Alpasa, SJ, Fr. Jose Francisco “Joefran” Talaban and some Casiguran locals to discuss the matter with NEDA.

The discussions took place inside the NEDA building while most of the marchers waited outside. However, after two and a half hours of dialogue, NEDA offered no definite response on the feasibility of Apeco.

No master plan

Winnie Monsod expressed her disappointment with the outcome of the dialogue, saying that plans for Apeco should be discontinued considering the risks that the government is taking with the ecozone.

When asked by a reporter if she thought the government was then in favor of the Angaras and Apeco, she replied, “It certainly looks like it, baby.”

Monsod was also upset by NEDA’s lack of transparency on the matter. According to her, the representatives were only able to see a copy of the executive summary and not the full report.

Fr. Javy Alpasa also noted NEDA’s admission that there were no clear plans for Apeco itself. “Walang master plan… Kaya ang tanong natin, wala naman palang plano e, ano ang batayan para sabihing pasado ito? (There is no master plan… This is why we ask, how did they say Apeco is qualified without it having any master plan?)”

Confusion

Alpasa said that based on the NEDA report, Apeco has already become more than an ecozone. It has turned into an “agri-aqua” zone as well, which Apeco claims will improve livelihood in the province.

Agri-aqua projects that have been set up in the region before have not been successful, according to Talaban. During the closed discussion in NEDA, Francisco showed data proving aquaculture in the province to be a failure.

According to Alpasa, it was stated in the report that the fisher folk from Casiguran have already been able to harvest seaweed. Upon hearing this, the crowd of Anti-Apeco marchers gave shouts of disagreement.

“Walang tagumpay ang Apeco mula noong nagsimula. Walang nagtagumpay na proyekto [o] investment [kaya] bakit natin itutuloy? (Why would we let the project continue when it has not even achieved anything since the time it started?)” said Alpasa.

Alpasa also showed a copy of an economics textbook by NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and noted the secretary’s opposition to economic zones.

While NEDA said that future proposals for economic zones would be rejected, they pointed to the legislation behind Apeco as a hindrance to their disapproval of it.

Alpasa noted, “Sinasabi niyo po ba sa amin na hindi kayo agree sa ecozones, kaya lang ang Apeco ay batas na? Hindi po namin maunawaan iyon. (Are you trying to tell us you do not agree with the establishment of ecozones but you can’t do anything about  Apeco because it has already been signed into law? We can’t understand your reason.)”

Further delay

Afterwards, the marchers continued their protest in Ortigas Center.

The Casiguran marchers and Task Force Anti-Apeco await NEDA’s final decision on the matter in two to three weeks.

The GUIDON stands in solidarity with the marchers from Casiguran. Read our editorial on Apeco here.