The farmers and fisherfolks in Aurora province especially those living in Barangays Dibet, Dibacong and Esteves all in Casiguran, are in danger of losing their homes and livelihood because of an economic zone project soon to rise in the area.
The Aurora Special Economic Zone (ASEZA) project will cover 500 hectares of irrigated farmlands, excluding residential lots and coastal areas that will also be affected by the project.
In an interview, Fr. Nilvon Villanueva, vicar forane of Infanta prelature said implementors of the project just came to the proposed site and started surveying the land and putting boundary marks without even informing the people.
Farm lands eyed for the project are privately-owned by farmers who possess certificates of land ownership (cloa).
The place earmarked for ASEZA is the rice granary of Casiguran, Aurora.
The project will not only affect and displace farmers but also fisherfolks since ASEZA will also put up a marine sanctuary that would deprive fisherfolks of fishing grounds, Villanueva said.
Affected townspeople and Infanta clergy are protesting the plan claiming that there has not been any consultation especially among those who will be displaced by the ecozone project.
The ASEZA project is mandated by an executive order from the office of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the priest disclosed.
Villanueva is not convinced ASEZA will bring development to the people.
It will only benefit the investors, he said. He lamented that the people had not been consulted or given the chance to voice out their resistance to the project before it was launched.
But he admitted that later there was a dialogue with Governor Bella Angara Castillo, but not with Representative Sonny Angara who authored the project. The congressman merely promised to discuss the issue with the people.
In an earlier report, Castillo assured the people that their welfare will be given priority and no displacement will happen.
Villanueva said roads leading to the projects are now being paved and the airports being developed and expanded.
ASEZA is building two airports in a small and poor province like Aurora, Villanueva said ironically.
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