FIVE MONTHS after a dialogue with the Casiguran marchers, President Benigno Aquino III has yet to craft his final resolution on the controversial issue of the Aurora-Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport (Apeco).

At a meeting held at San Jose Seminary last December 11, the President and the Casiguran farmers failed to reach an agreement with regard to the Casiguranins’ appeal to Aquino to scrap the Apeco project altogether.

Instead, Aquino ordered the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) to conduct a review and a feasibility study on Apeco.

Fast forward to May 6 of this year, when NEDA submitted its initial progress report to Malacañang for assessment.

NEDA recommended that Apeco be turned into an agro-aqua and ecotourism zone instead of a freeport, given the area’s “intrinsic economic potential” due to the accessible resources.

“This is [an] agro-aqua ecozone, not a freeport zone. The projects that are going to be set up are intrinsic to the raw materials [and] natural resources available in the place,” said NEDA Agriculture Staff Director Mercedita Sombilla in an interview with Rappler.

However, anti-Apeco supporters expressed their disappointment with NEDA’s review in the forum “The Apeco Controversy and the NEDA Review” held in the Faber Hall lobby in the Ateneo last May 7.

The forum was co-organized by the Ateneo Task Force Anti-Apeco (ATFAA).

“Dapat ba tayong matuwa na sinasabi ng NEDA na hindi na itutuloy ang eco-freeport? (Should we be happy that NEDA is now saying that the plan for an eco-freeport will no longer push through?)” asked Casiguran parish priest Fr. Joefran Talaban.

“Dapat maramdaman ng tao [ang pagbabagong ito]. Dapat ma-konsulta sila. (The people should feel this change. They should be consulted),” he added.

As of press time, NEDA has yet to submit its final report to the President.

However, NEDA Director-General Arsenio Balisacan was quick to point out to reporters that the fate of Apeco ultimately lies with Aquino. NEDA’s part was only to assess if investing more money in the project was economically sensible.

“Cautious and suspicious”

Incoming ATFAA Head Ace Dela Cruz said that while the shelving of Apeco’s freeport plans is in their favor, they are still “cautious and suspicious of this sudden change in plans.”

He said that the agro-aqua model is much more suitable for Casiguran.

“[However], the newly planned agro-aqua zone of Apeco will [only] become a feasible project if there is an assurance that Casiguran people themselves will directly benefit from the proposed zone, rather than outside or foreign investors,” Dela Cruz added.

Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan representative Fr. Javy Alpasa likewise expressed his skepticism towards Apeco’s shift during the aforementioned forum.

“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. Many of these are being used for smuggling),” said Alpasa.

He added that many agro-aqua and tourism spots in the Philippines flourish even if they are not established alongside an ecozone.

Dela Cruz also directed the blame for Apeco towards the legislators that passed Republic Act 9490 of 2007, which gave Apeco the green light.

“Aside from the lack of consultation, we have to remember that they were able to pass this project without a master plan. Where do you see a feasibility study done after the implementation of the law?” Dela Cruz said.

NEDA said in a statement that as an agro-aqua zone, Apeco will “generate employment and spur development not just in the catchment area of Dilasag-Casiguran-Dinalungan in Aurora, but also in the nearby provinces.”

“Partnership with local government units and other national agencies through dialogues and consultations would truly make the effort supportive of inclusive growth,” the statement read.

“Submit a master plan”

Before more money can be poured into the project to build facilities for its agro-aqua zone, Apeco should submit a “development master plan and land use plan,” stressed NEDA in its report.

NEDA Director-General Balisacan further explained that the master plan to be submitted should ensure three things: That all stakeholders are properly consulted, that local development agrees with the provincial development on the Apeco issue and that there is a “buy-in” of locators and other stakeholders in Apeco.

NEDA Agriculture Staff Director Sombilla expounded that the master plan should include the Apeco officials’ strategy for harnessing the raw materials to ensure sustainable use and development of resources.

“Further investment support for the installation of all these additional facilities will be contingent on Apeco’s completion of its master plan and other essential corporate business plans and policies in place, including its land use plan,” NEDA’s statement further said.

As of press time, none of the aforementioned plans have been accomplished by Apeco.

A waste of money and resources

Meanwhile, Casiguran fisherfolk leader Marlon Angara said that despite the lack of a definite plan for Apeco, there has already been a misuse of Aurora’s resources.

“[The Apeco officials] planted seaweed 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.

Casiguran parish priest Joefran Talaban said that 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 in the Apeco area that allegedly cost around P10 million. 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. (The government’s money was put to waste. They spent millions, but the people weren’t able to make use of it),” he added.

However, reports said that NEDA believes that stopping the development of the area will be more wasteful, given the amount of public funds already invested in Apeco.

Balisacan noted in an interview with Rappler that out of the government’s P2 billion allocation for the project, P800 million has already been doled out for Apeco since 2007.

Former NEDA Director General Winnie Monsod quickly urged that a budget moratorium be imposed on Apeco while the aforementioned master plan is in the works.

However, she added that the P800 million spent on the project can no longer be recovered.

With reports from Pauline V. Miranda