RELOCATION SITE FOR AFFECTED FAMILIES IN KOREAN SHIPYARD PROJECT NOT YET READY

Sitio Agusuhin, Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The relocation site for the families who are affected by the construction of Korean Shipyard project in this area is not yet ready to receive residents.

This was the observation of Zambales vice governor Ramon G. Lacbain II accompanied by Commission on Human Rights Central Luzon regional director Atty. Jasmin N. Regino and Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor area coordinator Olympia Micor during their ocular inspection yesterday of the relocation site located about 15 minutes away from Sitio Agusuhin whose residents need to be relocated to give way to Hanjin Shipping of Korea for their shipyard project in the area.

“The construction of the relocation site of the municipal government of Subic for the residents of Sitio Agusuhin started two weeks ago. We have three bulldozers provided by governor Vic Magsaysay. But one bulldozer is out-of-order now and I have additional two personnel working with me for this project”, according to Willy Napoles, an employee of the municipal government of Subic supervising this project.

Mr. Napoles does not even know when this relocation site will be finished and whether this project has funding when asked by vice governor Lacbain.


“It’s mountainous and too far from the beach area that will make it very difficult for children and senior citizens to go up and down from their houses to the beachfront, there is no available potable water, no beachfront where residents who are mostly fishermen can park their motorized bancas and the construction of new elementary and high school buildings, day care center, health center and community park with basketball court and stage have not yet started”, said vice governor Lacbain after inspecting the relocation site.

CHR regional director Regino was also wondering why the Korean shipyard project was allowed to commence more than a month ago by either the provincial government of Zambales or the municipal government of Subic without first securing the necessary certificate of compliance from the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor as provided for by Executive Order No. 152, series of 2002 which provides for the compliance of a checklist of documents to be attached to their application for certificate of compliance.

Among some of the requirements to be submitted by the concerned local government unit before the start of the Korean shipyard project include – development plan of relocation site, certificate of availability of relocation, affidavit and/or copy of MOA of negotiated and voluntary dismantling with board resolution designating people’s organization’s representatives, proposed development plan of the property to be cleared, certification from LGU or concerned agency that the area is the site of an infrastructure project with available funding and shall commence within 60 days after clearing of the said area, minutes and attendance of consultation meetings conducted and three notices of meeting receipts, copies of notice of demolition issued to all affected families bearing acknowledgement receipts and masterlist of underprivileged and homeless beneficiaries.

More than 200 residents of Sitio Agusuhin in Subic, Zambales have already accepted their payment from Hanjin Shipping and have allowed their houses demolished more than a month ago but they have remained in the small portion of their houses because of the absence of relocation site.

Another more than 200 residents who are members of Samahan ng Malaya at Nagkakaisang Residente ng Agusuhin (SAMANRA) have not accepted the offer of payment from Hanjin Shipping for their houses and other improvement because of the absence of acceptable relocation site and the amount of payment being offered which according to them is unfair.

The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor is expected to call a meeting by next week among all stakeholders of this project to settle once and for all issues and concerns pertaining to relocation including livelihood of affected families.

The community is covered by a 230-hectare land lease agreement between the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., Ltd., a South Korean company to build and operate a $1 billion worth shipyard inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo witnessed the signing of the agreement last February 28 in Malacanang Palace.

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 in the country since it is expected to generate 30,000 – 40,000 jobs.