Angara disputes Osmeña’s claim Apeco project a waste of gov’t money

Senators Edgardo Angara and Sergio Osmeña III

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Edgardo Angara denied the allegations by Senator Sergio Osmeña III that the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) in Casiguran, Aurora, was a waste of P2 billion of the government’s money.

“It is absolutely false to say P2 billion had been poured into this project; the reality is that the releases only amounted to P915 million,” Angara said during the hearing on the budget Wednesday.

He also denied the allegations that there has been little development of the zone and that Apeco has forcibly acquired the land from the local residents.

The properties in the 12,923-hectare special economic zone were bought at a fair price from willing sellers and Apeco provided housing to them for relocation. One member from each family was also given employment in the Apeco, Angara said.

Senator Sergio Osmeña III said previously that he would make a motion to remove the P353-million budget for the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Authority (Apeco) from the 2013 budget.

“Almost P2 billion has been spent in the last five years on a freeport that has not a single locator. The people’s money was wasted under the pretense of a project that has absolutely no chance of succeeding in 50 years,” Osmeña had said.

Farmers, fishermen, and indigenous peoples started an 18-day, 350-kilometer march on November 24 demanding for President Benigno Aquino III to look into the project. The 120-strong group, representing 3,000 affected families of Casiguran, were supported by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines.

Osmeña also said that Casiguran is severely affected by typhoons which would make it difficult as a port for ships. He also alleged that the zone was not linked to the national electric grid making it unattractive for locators who would set up there.

During the Senate budget deliberations, he proposed an amendment to cut the Apeco budget from P353 million to P3.5 million. Drilon, the principal author of the budget, however did not accept the amendment and it was also objected to by Angara, prompting Osmeña to ask for a vote.

The Senate then voted 7-4 to reject Osmeña’s amendment.