Thursday, 12 April, 2012
CASIGURAN — Some 3,000 residents of this remote coastal town want
themselves counted in a show of support to the Aurora Special Economic
Zone.
At a recent assembly led by Governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo, Vice
Mayor Lordan Roxas and other local executives were joined by Dumagat
tribalfolk, women and students in a forum at the multi-purpose hall in
Barangay Bianoan.
The assembly drew up a manifesto “pushing for change and progress and
also uphold the people’s social rights to have decent jobs, orderly
lives, a peaceful society, a healthy and balanced environment and
progress responsive to social justice.”
Roberto Mathay, Apeco president and chief executive officer, welcomed
the show of unity and cooperation for peace, respect for human rights
and the progress and development of Aurora.
“Apeco signifies the growth and development of Aurora and in the
course of developing the province, we go through lawful processes,” he
told Manila Standard.
Mathay said the ecozone was standing by its commitment to uphold the indigenous peoples’ right to their ancestral lands.
He said development included the concreting of unpaved sections of
the 120-kilometer Baler-Casiguran Road, the expansion of the Casiguran
airport, establishment of an agro-industrial park and other
infrastructure to attract investors in food processing, mariculture,
footwear, call center and other job-generating industries.
Mathay said tourism is being integrated in a masterplan for hotels
and retirement houses along with community housing, fish cages for
aquaculture and seaweed plantations and livelihood training for
high-value crops.
Kent Avestruz, Apeco deputy administrator, said other localities in
the northern part of the province will also benefit from the ecozone.
“With Apeco, we will not only have good roads and transport systems
but also an improved economic situation in this part of Aurora,” he
said.
Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/2012/04/12/3000-townsfolk-back-economic-zone/
