• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Five fisherfolk and farmer associations in Sicogon Island are filing petitions for the revocation of 334-hectare land use conversion from agricultural to commercial/tourism by the Sicogon Development Corporation (SIDECO), which was approved in 2016 by the Department of Agrarian Reform, allegedly for failure of Ayala Land Incorporated to comply with its obligations to them.
In a press briefing on February 27 in Bacolod City, representatives of the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (FESIFFA), Buaya Farmers and Fisherfolk Association (BUFFA) Incorporated, USWAGON, Alipata Kapayapaan Pagkakaisa at Kaunlaran (AKAPKA) and SICAFFA have joined hands in calling for revocation of SIDECO conversion order, which involves 334.64 hectares of land in the barangays of Alipata, Buaya, San Fernando, in Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.
SIDECO is the joint venture partner of property giant Ayala Land Incorporated in the development of Sicogon as a premier tourist destination in the country.
Jether Regodoz of BUFFA, Bebot Bernal of USWAGON, Lloyd Mahinay of SICAFFA, Lyn Lacson of AKAPKA, as well as Jan Jan Bernal and Eufemio Alcala Jr of FESIFFA took turns in claiming that Ayala Land Incorporated failed to deliver majority of its promises to them, such as typhoon-resilient housing, livelihood, and job opportunities.
Alfredo Luis “Dave” Sarrosa, a stockholder of SIDECO, who joined the press briefing, said he is endorsing and supporting the petition for revocation.
Edgardo Regodoz, who is the president of BUFFA, said he wrote letter to Iloilo Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Harriet Loot, asking for endorsement in connection with their petition for the revocation of conversion issued to SIDECO, after he was told by DAR Iloilo that it has no jurisdiction on the matter.
The Sicogon joint venture project with Ayala Land, which was launched in 2010, was aimed at transforming the island into a world-class eco-tourism destination, while ensuring that farmers and fisherfolk would benefit from the development.
In 2019, the petition for revocation of DAR Central Office No. COC-1602-053, Series of 2016, with an urgent prayer for the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order filed by FESIFFA in Aug, 2017, was denied by DAR. It involves 334.6 hectares of land in barangays of Alipata, Buaya, and San Fernando in Sicogon Island of Carles town.
However, DAR warned SIDECO and Ayala Land Inc. to fully comply with their undertaking as prescribed in their Comprehensive Framework Agreement, including the resettlement area, livelihood and training projects for FESIFFA members, agricultural area, and employment opportunities.
Jan Jan Bernal of FESIFFA, however, said that many of them did not receive the livelihood promised to them. Instead, he added, jobs were given to people outside the island.
Regodoz and AKAPKA president Lyn Lacson said they are requesting certified copies of SIDECO’s 2016 and 2021 conversion orders which they said are “critical in building their case,” against Ayala.*
