Aurora farmers press DAR to distribute APECO lands back to farmers

Farmers from Casiguran, Aurora contesting the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (APECO) called on Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes for the distribution of the 110-hectare irrigable agricultural lands—which is included in the coverage of APECO—used by Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT). The farmers made the request following ASCOT president Eusebio Angara's admission Thursday morning that the said land will be converted into agro-forestry, food processing infrastructure and marine facilities. A 110-hectare area of agricultural land located in Barangay Tinib (now Esteves), Casiguran, Aurora was reserved for a school of fisheries by virtue of Proclamation No. 723 dated 21 August 1934. In 1984, only a 5-hectare portion of the area was utilized for the Aurora National High School of Fisheries, which was renamed Casiguran National High School (CNHS). In 1993, Republic Act No. 7664 was enacted, creating Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) and CNHS was made an integral part of it. With the passage of the law creating the 12,427-hectare APECO, ASCOT became a part of it. According to the farmers, the conversion plan violates the agrarian reform law. Under the CARPER Law (RA 9700), prime agricultural lands, such as irrigated rice lands, cannot be converted to other uses; otherwise, the conversion is illegal and will be subject to penalties under the law. “They admitted the area will not be used as school facilities but for commercial purposes while we, who have been tilling the lands, and developed the land like our own, will be transferred to upland communities,” said Ine Villegas, one of the farmer leaders present during the dialogue. On the other hand, Angara told GMA News Online that the DAR is still studying the complaint. "Agricultural pa rin naman ang activities na ito," he said. "This will be used for the college, of ASCOT." Angara also said the project will focus on the improvement of the livelihood of the farmers. "One of our proposals is for one portion of the 110 hectares will be used by the farmers—they can't own the area but they can use it," he said. "A portion of it shall be used for their pagsasaka." For their part, APECO spokesman Kent Avestruz told GMA News Online that it is up to ASCOT "to decide how they will develop their area may it be for agroforestry or other uses as long as it will serve their purpose to promote education or develop perhaps R&D [research and development] for ASCOT." — BM, GMA News