ASEZA chief: No displacement in Aurora ecozone

CASIGURAN, Aurora , Philippines   – A top official of the Aurora Special Economic Zone Authority on Saturday clarified that no massive displacement of farmers and landowners will take place in a 500-hectare site of the ecozone once support infrastructure facilities are set in place.

ASEZA Chairman and Administrator Joseph Delano-Bernardo told The STAR that contrary to reports, only around 300 tenant farmers and landowners will be relocated once the government has utilized the 500 hectares in barangays Dibet, Dibacong and Esteves for the initial development of the ecozone.

Earlier, it was reported that as many as 3,000 tenant farmers would be displaced from the three barangays as a result of the construction of buildings and road networks in the area.

Bernardo said that Sen. Edgardo Angara has started negotiations with the National Housing Authority for the allocation of housing units for an initial 20 hectares as relocation site with amenities for a complete community.

He said ASEZA is also negotiating with seven landowners for 200 hectares in the project site.

Bernardo said that the government would offer higher prices for landowners who would be moved out of the area compared to the prevailing prices. At present, he said, irrigated lands fetch at P100,000 per hectare while unirrigated lands cost P80,000. “Definitely, we are going to offer a higher price,” he said.

While admitting that the issue of the project site being rice lands has yet to be resolved, Bernardo said that the ASEZA might negotiate first with owners and tillers of non-irrigated lands. He noted that there is an administrative order suspending for two years the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses but the ecozone, being a creation of law and a free port could be an exemption.  

“But anyone who wants to sell in the irrigated areas, we would welcome them,” he said.

Bernardo, a former Philippine ambassador to Spain, said that the initial development for ASEZA over the next 18 months would include the construction of the administration building, corporate campus, a three-star hotel, fire department buildings, two cabannas, the road network and underground electrical installations.