Anti-Apeco signature drive launched

ANTIPOLO City, August 28, 2011—Anti-Apeco groups have launched a signature drive calling for the scrapping of the Aurora-Pacific Economic Zone and Free Ports Authority project which has started in 2008.

Gerry Albert Corpuz, the media information officer of the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), one of the key movers of the Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora Movement, said they are targeting to gather as much signature that they can in order to convince Congress not to approve the P332.5 million (US$7,860,520.24) funding for the free port zone.

The group, said Corpuz, had already submitted the first 1,000 signatures to the Congress' Appropriations Committee and the Office of the House Speaker.

Corpuz explained that the project will harm the environment and the livelihood of the people of Aurora and the nearby provinces and towns if ever implemented as it will involve massive land reclamation and dredging on the province's shores. As the waters will be virtually privatized, the fisherfolks would be disallowed to fish for their food and living, Corpuz said.

Resist Apeco! Defend Aurora is composed of various groups such as Pamalakaya, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Anakpawis party list, Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), Panlalawigang Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid ng Aurora (Pamana), Government Employees 4 Genuine Land Reform (GE4GLR), Katribu Party list, Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (Kamp) and the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR). (Noel Sales Barcelona/CBCPNews)