Displaced Sicogon residents seek gov't help
CARLES, Iloilo – For almost a week now, more than 100 residents were displaced out of Sicogon Island and are currently staying at the town plaza pending the delineation of a disputed parcel of land.
Farmer-beneficiaries were forced out of the island due to the alleged continuous harassments by the armed security guards of the Sicogon Development Corporation (Sideco) since November 22.
Their houses, including the training center of the Federation of Sicogon Fisherfolk and Farmers Association (Fesiffa) and other farmer organizations in the island located in Barangay San Fernando were demolished. Their root crops were uprooted and their fences were all destroyed.
"My house was burnt and my two children were even verbally harassed and threatened with the use of an M16 armalite by Ian Sarrosa, chief security of the Sideco, saying that he will kill us, if we would not leave the area," said Elsa V. Bolaqueño, 46.
But Sarrosa, a relative of the Sideco Board Chairman Edgar Sarrosa, denied all the allegations of Bolaqueño .
"We have been lobbying for help from the local Philippine National Police office, but they cannot intervene since this is a civil dispute. Few months ago, we also asked for assistance from the Department of Agrarian (DA) and Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR), but up to now, the delineation of the private and public land was not yet done," said Raul Ramos, chairman of Fesiffa.
"If ever a member of the association will go there, he or she will be killed," Ramos added.
Fearing for their lives, the residents started their exodus out of the island last December 3 to ask for help from the local government.
Jerry Sarrosa, secretary of the Sideco, said that the corporation has been planning to re-open the island for development, and the people who will be affected will be properly relocated.
"We will, in fact, make a model community for them, and make use of them as part of the manpower once the island has been developed," Sarrosa said.
It was learned through the local officials here that the Sideco filed foreshore lease, and if granted by the Sangguniang Bayan, more than 6,000 residents of the island will be relocated to pave way to the said multi-million project.
However, farmers and fishers group purportedly oppose to the said relocation, including the Panay Rural Organizing for Reform and Social Order, Inc.
"We urge the Department of Agrarian Reform to fully implement the CARP in due time, and to consider the ruling of the Supreme Court regarding this matter," said Lirio Cordova, executive director of Progreso.
The Department of Agrarian Reform placed the 334 hectares of the Sarrosa property under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and more than 200 residents of the island were listed as beneficiaries.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Ricardo B. Ferndandez said that a Notice of Coverage (NOC) was served on the Sideco; however, the corporation did not accept it on the basis that there are errors on the spelling of the name of the landowner stated.
Instead, Sideco filed an Application for Exemption for CARP coverage in 2005.
In the 80s, Sicogon Island was once a flourishing tourism spot well-known in the whole world, but due to political unrest in the country the resort turned bankrupt. It has a 1,200-meter airstrip, which could accommodate lighter planes, a wharf, white sandy shoreline, and diving areas brimmed with coral reefs.
Sicogon is one of 23 small islands off the town of Carles at the northeastern tip of Iloilo province.