NINETEEN SOCIAL scientists from the Ateneo signed a statement last December 16 to urge a substantive review and suspension of activities of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco).
“If we are to tread the tuwid na daan and fully regain the citizens’ trust, let not Apeco be an example of major economic projects to achieve Inclusive Growth and Development,” the statement read.
The social scientists reasoned that Apeco has threatened the agricultural land of farmers and the indigenous peoples’ ancestral domain in Casiguran, Aurora. According to the statement, the case of Apeco highlighted the violation of principles of inclusive growth and development.
“It [Apeco] alienates the people who should be the first to participate and benefit from inclusive economic growth,” the statement further said.
The scientists cited the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011 to 2016 to define Inclusive Growth: “Growth that is rapid enough to matter, given the country’s large population, geographical differences, and social complexity. It is sustained growth that creates jobs, draws the majority into the economic and social mainstream, and continuously reduces mass poverty.”
In addition, they cited further from PDP 2011 that the record of economic and social progress up to now has proven unsatisfactory as viewed by majority of Filipinos for three reasons.
“First, its pace has been slow when measured against the achievements of the country’s neighbors; second, the benefits of that progress have not been broadly shared; and third, issues of massive corruption and of questioned political legitimacy have undermined the people’s sense of ownership of and control over public policy.”
As a result, the social scientists call on the government to put a moratorium on and a review of Apeco.
In the last lines of the cited PDP 2011, it read, “Growth has not only lagged, it has failed to benefit the majority, who feel increasingly alienated because their political institutions provide little relief and have drifted beyond their control. Growth, in short, has failed to be inclusive.”
