‘Metropolis’ blamed for flash floods, landslides
A supposed world-class metropolis project of the Aurora and Quezon governments was blamed Wednesday for the massive flash floods and landslides in Eastern Luzon that killed hundreds and destroyed billions of pesos worth of crops and properties.
Anakpawis party-list Rep. Rafael Mariano said in a statement the New Pacific Coast City (NPCC) or the so-called “world-class” metropolis was intended to serve as an attractive alternative to heavily congested Metro Manila and is taking shape in the boundaries of the coastal towns of Dingalan in Aurora and Infanta, Quezon.
He said multisectoral groups had accused the companies as among the biggest loggers in the provinces. ”The 80,000-hectare area will host industrial cities, a government center, forest and wildlife preserves, residential areas, workers’ city, an educational city, tourism center, a religious center, a movie capital, and an Olympic-style sports center and will also include a ‘Pentaport’ allegedly by government consisting of an airport, seaport, telecommunications port, business port, and ecotourism port all in one site.”
He said both President Fidel Ramos and Joseph Estrada declared NPCC as a national flagship project during their terms.
“[The plan was] contained in a development master plan entitled, ‘The Luzon Seaboard Strategic Scheme and the New Pacific Coast City’ by the Green Square Properties and Resources Inc. and Green Circle Properties and Resources Inc.,” he added.
Mariano said the Arroyo administration is now continuing with the Green Circle project that will mainly affect Dumagats and upland farmers in the area. “Unless the antipeasant project is stopped, it will continue to claim lives of the people in the area.”
Land has been the base for the Dumagats tribe’s unique culture, beliefs, and way of life for centuries and depriving them of the land would make them lose their identity as a people, he added.
Besides the Green Circle project, a circumferential road connecting Infanta to Umiray is also under construction.
The lawmaker urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to immediately cancel the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued to Green Circle Properties and Resources Inc. for the project, including its logging permits.
As part of ongoing international relief efforts, the Singapore government is working closely, meanwhile, with the Singapore Red Cross Society in providing humanitarian aid to the victims of the recent tropical storms.
The Singapore government will be contributing $50,000 to kick-start the assistance initiative.
In a letter of condolence, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong conveyed to President Arroyo the sympathies of the people and government of Singapore.
National Police chief Edgar Aglipay suspended the Christmas party celebrations of all units and offices. “There would just be one, unified celebration” on December 20.
Aglipay also prohibited the solicitation of gifts “in whatever nature or form” by any police officer.
The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), through its National Executive Board, released P1.2 million as financial assistance to eight provinces badly hit by typhoons Violeta, Unding, Winnie, and Yoyong.
Upon the recommendation of LPP national president Gov. Erico Aumentado, the officers also decided to contribute P150,000 to each of the eight provinces for their respective disaster management and relief operations.
Army soldiers continue to conduct disaster relief operations in Quezon, Aurora and Nueva Ecija.
Soldiers from the 2nd, 7th, and 9th Infantry Divisions are still deep in the mud and muck of the disaster areas, trudging on foot under heavy rains and strong winds to deliver relief goods to the typhoon victims, especially those isolated by impassable roads and bridges.
Army engineers also continue to clear main transportation routes and build temporary passages so that rescue operations and distribution of relief goods could proceed. F. Legaspi, C.M. Muñiz