DAR accused of ‘conniving’ with Henry Sy’s firm to evict Hacienda Looc farmers
“DAR officials are fully aware that Hacienda Looc is a contested land and that the fraudulent cancellation of their certificates is not equivalent to a conversion order,” KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said.
By RONALYN V. OLEA
Bulatlat.com
Sidebar: Hacienda Looc farmers decry harassment, tag Henry Sy as a ‘landgrabber’
MANILA – Fighting for their land and livelihood, farmers from Hacienda Looc camped outside the national office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Sept. 19.
Farmers belonging to Ugnayan ng mga Mamamayan Laban sa Pangwawasak ng Kalupaan ng Hacienda Looc (Umalpas-Ka) reiterated their demand to stop the conversion of 8,650 hectare Hacienda Looc in Nasugbu, Batangas.
SM Land, owned by business tycoon Henry Sy, is developing 5,800 hectares of Hacienda Looc into the Hamilo Coast project that includes the Pico De Loro Beach and Country Club and the Pico De Loro Residential Condominiums. It aims to develop 13 natural coves, 25 kilometers of pristine beachfront; forests, mountains, limestone cliffs, and rock formations. Since 2004, SM Land has been building structures along the coastal areas, converting farmlands and displacing farmers and fishermen of Hacienda Looc.
Farmers from Hacienda Looc set up a camp in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). (Photo by Ronalyn V. Olea / bulatlat.com)
“The DAR and SM Land are obviously in collusion with each other to evict farmers and push through with the anti-people Hamilo Coast project in Hacienda Looc,” Armando Lemita, Umalpas-Ka spokesman, said. “The DAR allowed SM Land to grab our lands,” Lemita said.
Lemita said that during their dialogue with DAR, Sept. 13, officials failed to present any conversion order. “SM Land has arbitrarily converted more than 200-hectares of the contested land for the Hamilo Coast land development project,” Lemita said.
In 1990, the DAR granted a collective certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) and emancipation patents (EPs) to farmers in Hacienda Looc under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). After several years, the DAR cancelled the certificates after the government’s Assets Privatization Trust (APT) sold the whole hacienda to Manila Southcoast Development Corp. (MSDC), a member of the SM Group of Companies.
“DAR officials are fully aware that Hacienda Looc is a contested land and that the fraudulent cancellation of their certificates is not equivalent to a conversion order,” KMP secretary general Danilo Ramos said..... MORE
Source: Bulatlat.com
URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/09/22/dar-accused-of-%E2%80%98conniving%E2%80%99-with-henry-sy%E2%80%99s-firm-to-evict-hacienda-looc-farmers/
2 comments:
itong si henry sy talaga eh.... kanyang mall ba iyong napabalitang nakapatay ng ilang empleyado at customer dahil sa utos ng manager na isara yung pintong bakal (para daw hindi sila manakawan) noong bagyong ondoy bago biglang tumaas ang tubig????? nagtatanong lang po....
"“The DAR and SM Land are obviously in collusion with each other to evict farmers and push through with the anti-people Hamilo Coast project in Hacienda Looc,” Armando Lemita, Umalpas-Ka spokesman, said. “The DAR allowed SM Land to grab our lands,” Lemita said.
"Lemita said that during their dialogue with DAR, Sept. 13, officials failed to present any conversion order. “SM Land has arbitrarily converted more than 200-hectares of the contested land for the Hamilo Coast land development project,” Lemita said."
the yellow administration of the philippines has been consistently working against the interests of the filipino people, although at times...may papogi effect. makarma na naman kayo!
"“The DENR knew that construction along foreshore land is prohibited, illegal, and criminal. We hold DENR officials accountable for allowing itself to be used by SM Land in this environmental havoc in Hacienda Looc,” Ramos said."
Post a Comment