Forced Demolition for Korean Shipyard Project Displaced Families
Sitio Agusuhin, Subic, Zambales. About seventy families from this area are now living under the trees since their houses were demolished by a composite team headed by Sonny Pomarada, the SWAT and Forest Rangers of Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) with assistance from Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force last April 29-May 1, 2006 to clear the area in time for the scheduled groundbreaking ceremony of a Korean shipyard project yesterday.
Aside from armed police personnel, youngsters holding pieces of woods to drive away dogs and chickens were also seen assisting the demolition team who are using backhoe and bulldozers to clear the houses, fences, trees, plants and other improvements made by the residents in the area who have been living there for the past 5 to 40 years.
This area used to be the practice area for shooting and other military exercises of U.S. military personnel when this is still part of the former U.S. naval base in Subic Bay. When the Americans left after the rejection of a new treaty by the Philippine Senate, this area was turned over to SBMA.
SBMA signed an agreement last August 2005 with Hanjin Heavy Industries, Inc. (HHIC), one of the largest shipping companies in South Korea, to build the country’s biggest shipyard that is estimated to cost US$ 1 billion in committed investment.
However for the past several months since the agreement was signed between SBMA and Hanjin Shipping not all families residing in the area have been fully paid for their houses and other improvements. Others have already accepted their payment from Sonny Pomarada ranging from P9,000.00 to P1,500,000.00.
Members of Samahan ng Malayang Nagkakaisang Residente sa Agusuhin (SAMANRA) have complained the unjust compensation package and the lack of assurance for their livelihood and employment opportunities in the shipyard project.
A relocation site identified by the municipal government of Subic, Zambales is also unacceptable to members of SAMANRA because it is mountainous, rocky and there is no available area where they park their bancas.
Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II who has visited the area for several times and last May 1, 2006 after residents appealed for his intervention has confirmed the ongoing forced demolition and the families living under the trees.
“I am not against this Hanjin shipyard project and I know that the affected families are also not against this project but for the sake of the general welfare of the people, I am appealing for president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to direct the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor to immediately convene an inter-agency meeting in order to thresh out all the issues and concerns of the families affected by this project, according to vice governor Lacbain who is also a resident of Subic, Zambales.
Prior to the forced demolition for three days, PCUP has called for an inter-agency meeting last May 1, 2006 and has invited the municipal mayor of Subic, Zambales, the governor of Zambales, the Administrator of SBMA and the leaders of Agusuhin Neighborhood Association (ANA) and SAMANRA.
But this meeting did not push through and SBMA deputy administrator for special operations Atty. Ramon Agregado is also questioning the jurisdiction of PCUP in this project.
The lawyer and leaders of SAMANRA also met with Sonny Pomarada and Ameth dela Llana representing the SBMA. So the affected families were surprised why there was this forced demolition despite ongoing negotiations.
Vice governor Lacbain further said, “the people are more than willing to negotiate and meet with concerned government agencies. The sooner this is done, the better for the children, the women and all the families affected by the project. There are three major concerns that can be addressed in this inter-agency meeting – just compensation, relocation and livelihood. The families affected by this project must be the first to benefit and not suffer from this project”.
Arcadio Fernandez, one of the residents said, “they have demolished our houses and have not paid us, so how can they expect us to live. Where will we get the money to build our new houses and to feed our children. We do not know where to go so we appealing to our government leaders to have pity on us. We can’t work because we need to protect our families from harm.
“Our children and our wives are always living in fear. We appeal for the settlement of our problems as soon as possible so we can live peacefully and start a new life”, according to Christopher Arboso and Esteban Salcedo, Jr. both residents of sitio Agusuhin.
Aside from armed police personnel, youngsters holding pieces of woods to drive away dogs and chickens were also seen assisting the demolition team who are using backhoe and bulldozers to clear the houses, fences, trees, plants and other improvements made by the residents in the area who have been living there for the past 5 to 40 years.
This area used to be the practice area for shooting and other military exercises of U.S. military personnel when this is still part of the former U.S. naval base in Subic Bay. When the Americans left after the rejection of a new treaty by the Philippine Senate, this area was turned over to SBMA.
SBMA signed an agreement last August 2005 with Hanjin Heavy Industries, Inc. (HHIC), one of the largest shipping companies in South Korea, to build the country’s biggest shipyard that is estimated to cost US$ 1 billion in committed investment.
However for the past several months since the agreement was signed between SBMA and Hanjin Shipping not all families residing in the area have been fully paid for their houses and other improvements. Others have already accepted their payment from Sonny Pomarada ranging from P9,000.00 to P1,500,000.00.
Members of Samahan ng Malayang Nagkakaisang Residente sa Agusuhin (SAMANRA) have complained the unjust compensation package and the lack of assurance for their livelihood and employment opportunities in the shipyard project.
A relocation site identified by the municipal government of Subic, Zambales is also unacceptable to members of SAMANRA because it is mountainous, rocky and there is no available area where they park their bancas.
Zambales vice governor Ramon Lacbain II who has visited the area for several times and last May 1, 2006 after residents appealed for his intervention has confirmed the ongoing forced demolition and the families living under the trees.
“I am not against this Hanjin shipyard project and I know that the affected families are also not against this project but for the sake of the general welfare of the people, I am appealing for president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to direct the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor to immediately convene an inter-agency meeting in order to thresh out all the issues and concerns of the families affected by this project, according to vice governor Lacbain who is also a resident of Subic, Zambales.
Prior to the forced demolition for three days, PCUP has called for an inter-agency meeting last May 1, 2006 and has invited the municipal mayor of Subic, Zambales, the governor of Zambales, the Administrator of SBMA and the leaders of Agusuhin Neighborhood Association (ANA) and SAMANRA.
But this meeting did not push through and SBMA deputy administrator for special operations Atty. Ramon Agregado is also questioning the jurisdiction of PCUP in this project.
The lawyer and leaders of SAMANRA also met with Sonny Pomarada and Ameth dela Llana representing the SBMA. So the affected families were surprised why there was this forced demolition despite ongoing negotiations.
Vice governor Lacbain further said, “the people are more than willing to negotiate and meet with concerned government agencies. The sooner this is done, the better for the children, the women and all the families affected by the project. There are three major concerns that can be addressed in this inter-agency meeting – just compensation, relocation and livelihood. The families affected by this project must be the first to benefit and not suffer from this project”.
Arcadio Fernandez, one of the residents said, “they have demolished our houses and have not paid us, so how can they expect us to live. Where will we get the money to build our new houses and to feed our children. We do not know where to go so we appealing to our government leaders to have pity on us. We can’t work because we need to protect our families from harm.
“Our children and our wives are always living in fear. We appeal for the settlement of our problems as soon as possible so we can live peacefully and start a new life”, according to Christopher Arboso and Esteban Salcedo, Jr. both residents of sitio Agusuhin.
Photos and report by Zambales Vice Gov. Mon Lacbain
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
12:15 PM
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