200 families face evictionover a shipyard project in Zambales
Subic, Zambales — To give way to a South Korean shipyard project, more than 200 families in Sitio Agusuhin, Bgy. Cawag, Subic, Zambales face eviction, a local urban-poor community organization said.
Reynaldo Samonte, Chairperson of Samahan ng Malaya at Nagkakaisang Residente ng Agusuhin (SAMANRA, Organization of Free and United Residents of Agusuhin) in a statement sent via SMS said the Zambales provincial government has “already assembled a demolition team and made plans to demolish the community as soon as possible.”
Samonte claims they have been living in the area for at least 50 years and will fight the plan to uproot them from their community.
“Hindi totoo ang press release nila na nabayaran na at nabigyan ng relokasyon ang mga tao (The press release [from the provincial government] that residents have been paid and already relocated is not true),” Samonte said further belying reports that residents have already agreed to leave the area.
“Yung mga bagong salta ang binayaran nila ng PhP 20,000 tapos tinatakot nila ang mga lehitimong residente,” (They paid newcomers Php 20,000 and issued threats to legitimate residents), Samonte explains.
The community was covered by a 230-hectare land-lease agreement between Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd., a South Korean company, to build and operate a USD 1 billion worth shipyard at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the signing of the agreement last February 28.
Once operational, the shipyard will build liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and very large container carriers (VLCC) for customers around the world. The investment is also expected to boost economic activity at the country premiere freeport zone and generate 30,000 to 40,000 jobs.
by Gitnang Luson News Service
Reynaldo Samonte, Chairperson of Samahan ng Malaya at Nagkakaisang Residente ng Agusuhin (SAMANRA, Organization of Free and United Residents of Agusuhin) in a statement sent via SMS said the Zambales provincial government has “already assembled a demolition team and made plans to demolish the community as soon as possible.”
Samonte claims they have been living in the area for at least 50 years and will fight the plan to uproot them from their community.
“Hindi totoo ang press release nila na nabayaran na at nabigyan ng relokasyon ang mga tao (The press release [from the provincial government] that residents have been paid and already relocated is not true),” Samonte said further belying reports that residents have already agreed to leave the area.
“Yung mga bagong salta ang binayaran nila ng PhP 20,000 tapos tinatakot nila ang mga lehitimong residente,” (They paid newcomers Php 20,000 and issued threats to legitimate residents), Samonte explains.
The community was covered by a 230-hectare land-lease agreement between Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd., a South Korean company, to build and operate a USD 1 billion worth shipyard at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the signing of the agreement last February 28.
Once operational, the shipyard will build liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers and very large container carriers (VLCC) for customers around the world. The investment is also expected to boost economic activity at the country premiere freeport zone and generate 30,000 to 40,000 jobs.
by Gitnang Luson News Service
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