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Friday, March 09, 2007
Koreans evict Pinoy farmers, cut down 60 trees
By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- Six farmers have lost their livelihood and suffered heavy damage after a Korean group ordered the clearing of their 18 hectares of farmlands.
The farmers' sugar crops were bulldozed and about 60 trees planted by a businessman were cut to pave the way for the development of a subdivision near the Circumferential Road here last week.
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Casting doubts on the building and subdivision permits of the Korean project, the evicted farmers are now asking the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Angeles City Government, and other government agencies to stop the work on the land.
Workers of the Korean financiers named only as Kim, Pak and Shim reportedly bulldozed the sugar crops of the tenants without giving them prior notice.
Saying the Korean businessmen have no right to destroy their crops, the farmers stressed that concerned government agencies should stop the group from pursuing its activities.
The Korean group has reportedly been clearing the land without having talked to the farmers, who until now have not been compensated for their landholdings and damaged crops.
Sun.Star Pampanga learned that the Korean group, when it proceeded to clear the area, completely ignored environmental regulations since its activities resulted in the burning and cutting of about 60 Balakat and Ipil-ipil trees planted by businessman Ruperto Cruz.
Residents said the Koreans ordered the burning and cutting of the trees that are now approximately at least 10 years old. They said the Korean group also felled trees on a watershed and the trees that were planted by the residents to prevent lateral erosions on the creek nearby.
The farmers said they have been established as bona fide tenants of the land as they have been tilling it for many years now. They said the land was originally tilled by their fathers.
On June 21, 2005, the Pampang barangay council represented by its chairman Carlos dela Cruz certified that the farmers are bona fide tenants of the 18 hectares of sugar land in the barangay in Angeles City (near Bahay Bata Foundation Center) then owned by Albert Gonzales.
The farmers mentioned in the certification of the Pampang barangay council are Fernando Magbag, Gregorio Mananalo, Mario Catap, Gregorio Cortez, Juanito Arceo, and Rustico Capili.
A realtor here also expressed disappointment with government agencies for allowing foreigners to develop subdivisions when the law clearly prohibits them from owning land in the country. (Sun.Star Pampanga/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (March 9, 2007 issue)
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