UNHEARD VOICES. Casiguran locals and Anti-Apeco supporters push for consultation before any developments in Aurora resume. Photo by Ryan Y. Racca
THE CASIGURAN locals are still not pleased.
A review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) released Monday, May 6, said that the Aurora-Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) plan will be developed as an agri-aqua-tourism project instead.
This is in response to the Casiguran farmers and anti-Apeco supporters’ request for a review.
However, they remain unsatisfied with the lack of consultation.
“Dapat ba tayong matuwa na sinasabi ng NEDA na hindi na itutuloy ang eco-freeport?” said Casiguran parish priest Fr. Joefran Talaban. (Should we be happy that NEDA is now saying that the plan for an eco-freeport will no longer push through?)
“Dapat maramdaman ng tao, dapat ma-konsulta sila.” (The people should feel [that there really is a change], they should be consulted.)
Along with four other speakers, Talaban responded to the said review in a forum entitled “The Apeco Controversy and the NEDA Review” held last Tuesday, May 7 at the Faber Hall lobby.
The other speakers were former NEDA Director-General Winnie Monsod, Atty. Chris Monsod, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan representative Fr. Javy Albasa and Casiguran fisherfolk leader Marlon Angara.
Failed projects, flaws in review
Angara said the whole issue saddened him, especially as regards the misuse of Aurora’s resources.
“They planted seaweeds in Casiguran Bay, but the bay is surrounded by rivers, so the water becomes less salty. That’s why the seaweeds die,” Angara said in a mix of English and Filipino.
According to Talaban meanwhile, this is just one of the failed projects of Apeco, which “are a big waste of the government’s funds.”
Both Angara and Talaban mentioned the fish cage project that allegedly cost around 10 million pesos.
It did not benefit the people of Casiguran, contrary to what was promised.
“Sayang ang pera ng gobyerno. Milyon ang ginastos pero hindi napakinabangan ng tao,” Talaban said. (The government’s money was put to waste. They spent millions, but the people weren’t able to make use of it.)
Furthermore, Alpasa said the Apeco issue may well just be the Aquino administration’s equivalent to former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s NBN-ZTE scandal.
Apeco allegedly costs 11 billion pesos.
“We don’t need an economic zone to develop agri-aqua-tourism. There are many agri, aqua, and tourism spots in the Philippines that grow even without ecozones,” Alpasa said.
“At lahat, oo, lahat ng ecozone natin ay wala pang napatunayang kita bagkus karamihan dito ay nagagamit na daan para sa smuggling.” (None of our ecozones have any proven profit. Furthermore, many of these are being used for smuggling.)
Atty. Monsod noted that the Apeco project has several legal violations, saying that it could be a source of corruption and could also violate the rights of the Casiguranos.
He cited that should Apeco push through, there would be more opportunities for the Angaras to use the area for gambling, smuggling and imposing additional taxes for personal benefit, among others.
“Dapat maalis ‘yung batas na yan sa libro,” Atty. Monsod said. (This [Apeco] law should be taken out from the books.)
Former NEDA Director-General Monsod added that even if the concept of Apeco is changed from being an economic zone to that of agri-aqua-tourism, the projects would still fail as the proper people were not consulted.
“What else can be done? Let’s start again. Consult,” she said, echoing sentiments for the consultation of the Casiguranos.
According to Monsod, while they do want Aurora to develop, they want it in a way that is according to what the citizens want.
