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2 Bicol groups oppose int’l aiport project in Albay

[ Manila Bulletin Online ] July 5, 2008

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan -Albay (Bayan-Albay) and the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Bikol (KMPBikol) have expressed fears that the construction of the Bicol International Airport in Barangay Alobo, Daraga, Albay would rob the region of fertile rice and coconut farms.

Fred Mansos, chairman of Bayan-Albay, said that the area identified as ideal for the airport project is planted to rice and coconuts and are thus clearly agricultural. Why is the Arroyo government itself now engaged in land-use conversion? he asked.

Bicol is chronically rice deficient and could not supply the 2.7 million bags of rice that its entire population needs.

"We are not against development but the Bicol International Airport will definitely be a bane not just to the residents of Albay but to the region as well for a number of reasons. First, the area they plan to use is prime agricultural land for rice and coconuts. When they use this land, then definitely this will aggravate the rice crisis being experienced by the country," he said.

"Second, President Arroyo issued a moratorium on land-use conversions of agricultural lands, is the Bicol International Airport exempted from this?"

"Third, the airport will foster environmental destruction and may cause landslides and flooding in the future, considering that Albay is always in the path of typhoons. Fourth, this project will also cause massive displacement of farmers," he said. (Marvyn Benaning)
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