Typhoon Lando: Damaged structures prove APECO ‘a waste of money’

MANILA, Philippines – Typhoon Lando (international name Koppu) proved that the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APECO) in Casiguran, Aurora, would only be a waste of money, said farmers opposing the controversial government project.

“If there is anything that should be moved out of Casiguran, it should be APECO, whose projects were wrecked by Lando,” said Lisa Vargas, a farmer from San Ildefonso, a village in Casiguran.

Buildings and other infrastructure within the APECO compound were heavily damaged during the typhoon, which made landfall in Casiguran last October 18.

Its administration building, reportedly worth P61 million, was among the structures that were wrecked by the storm’s strong winds and torrential rain.

Lando also heavily damaged an APECO housing project in Barangay Esteves, Casiguran, reportedly worth P100 million. 

‘Ill-suited’ for a freeport

Lando is not the first storm to damage APECO structures. The area was still recovering from the 2013 storm Typhoon Labuyo. Casiguran is often struck by typhoons.

According to PAGASA data, around 40% of the storms which passed through the Philippines from 2005 to 2011 hit the otherwise sleepy town.

The frequency of storms makes Casiguran ill-suited for ventures like APECO, says advocacy group Task Force Anti-APECO.

President Benigno Aquino III himself told local government officials 4 days after Lando’s onslaught that even living in Casiguran may not be worth the risk. (READ: Aquino in Casiguran: Time to consider relocation)

“Let us think carefully: is it worth it to stay there when you are sure to be hit every time a typhoon comes? It may be better if we transfer to a better location,” said Aquino.

APECO is a 12,923-hectare development envisioned to create economic growth in northern Aurora and nearby San Ildefonso Peninsula.

Making use of the area’s marine and terrestrial wealth, the ecozone hopes to be a hub for agro-aqua industries. It was the brainchild of former Senator Edgardo Angara, patriarch of a powerful political clan in Aurora.

But the project has been besieged by allegations of misuse of government funds and a lack of feasibility studies.

For 2015, it was given only a “caretaker” budget of P40 million, a far cry from the P250 million APECO officials had proposed for it.

Groups like Task Force Anti-APECO want the government to suspend APECO and use the millions of pesos in taxpayers’ money for other projects.

Casiguran farmer Lisa Vargas has a suggestion: “Rather than relocate us and continue funding APECO, the government would be wiser to instead give us houses that can withstand the typhoons, and support our livelihoods.” – Rappler.com