SETTLERS driven out by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” to the wilderness of Sicogon Island in Carles town, Iloilo province, pitch tents on a portion of public forest land where their stay is also uncertain. PHOTO FROM PROGRESO PANAY
ILOILO CITY—A group of fishermen and farmers that settled in Sicogon Island in Carles town, Iloilo province, is finding its world growing smaller every day.
After members of the group were swept out of their community in Sicogon by 300-kilometer-per-hour winds whipped up by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” the settlers were forced to occupy a forest area in Sicogon.
But after Yolanda, another storm is threatening to sweep them off the island for good.
Since March 28, the settlers, members of Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (Fesiffa), have been living on a portion of a 282-hectare land classified as a public forest in Barangay Buaya.
Raul Ramos, Fesiffa president, said in a statement that members of his group had been forced to occupy the forest after they were displaced by Yolanda.
Yolanda, however, is not the only threat to the settlers.
Ramos said the settlers were being harassed by men with links to Sicogon Development Corp. (Sideco), a private firm that plans to turn the island into a world-class destination that features a five-star hotel, seaport and airport.
Sicogon, part of Carles, which is 146 kilometers northeast of here, is known for its white sand beach.
Sideco owns at least 809 ha of the 1,160-ha island while 351 ha is classified as public or forest land.
Fesiffa has accused the company of forcibly ejecting them from their homes and incursion over public lands to pave the way for a P10-billion development project on the 1,160-ha island.
Sideco officials have repeatedly denied the allegations and insisted that the project’s critics are a small minority.
In an earlier interview, Sideco lawyer Alain Ross Somile said most settlers affected by the development project agreed to accept compensation in exchange for volunteering to leave the island or transfer to a resettlement site in Barangay Jolog in the neighboring town of Estancia.
But settlers who refuse to leave want a relocation site within the public forest land.
Fesiffa said the relocation site in Estancia “is too far” from Sicogon Island.
It said a portion of the forest land had cogon and was ideal for agriculture. The area also has a source of potable water and a coastline that can be used as a docking area of fishermen.
Senior Insp. Rodelon Betita, Carles police chief, said police had been notified by the Department of Environment Natural Resources (DENR) that the occupation of the forest land is illegal.
Betita said police would keep the peace while DENR personnel continue to negotiate with the settlers. He said less than 100 settlers were occupying parts of the forest land.