Sicogon families secure land, housing funds

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Sicogon Island Tourism Estate Corp. has formally signed the deeds of donation for 30 hectares of residential land and 33 hectares of agricultural land for hundreds of beneficiary families under the Federation of Sicogon Island Farmers and Fisherfolk Association on Sicogon Island in Carles, Iloilo.

The recent signing was attended by Mayor Arnold Betita II, representatives of the Department of Agrarian Reform, community leaders, and FESIFFA members, paving the way for SITEC to fulfill two major commitments under the amended Compromise and Framework Agreement between SITEC and FESIFFA.

The agreement provides Sicogon families with residential land for community development and agricultural land to support long-term livelihood opportunities.

Alongside the signing, SITEC also released the remaining PHP 29 million housing fund balance for home construction under the agreement.

Under the amended agreement signed in 2021, SITEC committed support for residential land, housing construction, livelihood assistance, and agricultural land allocation for FESIFFA members.

To date, these commitments include 30 hectares of residential land formally donated to beneficiary families, 33 hectares of agricultural land turned over to agrarian reform beneficiaries, the release of PHP 38 million in livelihood assistance, and total funding of PHP 256 million for land development and housing construction.

The funding supports the completion of 784 homes covered under the agreement.

In a statement, Sicogon Development Corp. President and SITEC Vice Chairman Michael Andrew Sarrosa said the development marks another important step toward fulfilling commitments made to the community.

“This process involved coordination among many stakeholders, and our shared objective has always been to secure better opportunities and a more stable future for Sicogon families,” he added.

SITEC said it would continue working with FESIFFA, government agencies, and community stakeholders to complete the remaining commitments under the agreement.

“The commitments to the Sicogon community remain in place,” SITEC said in a statement, adding that progress has been achieved through cooperation among the community, government, and project partners, and that collaboration remains important as work continues on the remaining obligations.

The development came amid a petition filed May 20 by representatives of Sicogon Island residents before DAR’s central office seeking partial revocation related to the allocated residential and agricultural areas of the Buaya Farmers and Fisherfolks Association and FESIFFA.

The petition asked DAR to cancel the conversion of former agricultural land into commercial property, citing alleged broken promises by the Ayala-led consortium developing the island.

The groups alleged that the respondents failed to comply with obligations under the 2014 CFA, the 2021 amended CFA, and related agreements tied to the land conversion approval.

The petition also alleged that the respondents violated mandatory conditions attached to the conversion order, including the alleged failure to remit the full PHP 32 million livelihood and training fund due to the community.

The petitioners also claimed that the promised relocation and housing projects remain incomplete.

The groups further alleged noncompliance with housing subsidy commitments for 784 validated FESIFFA households and failure to provide access roads to agricultural areas allocated for conventional farming.

The filing cited a March 6, 2019, cease-and-desist order issued by DAR against the developers over alleged violations and noncompliance.

The order was lifted a few months later, in October 2019, but the agency “sternly warned” SIDECO and Ayala Land Inc. to fully comply with their CFA undertakings.

In 2010, SIDECO and ALI entered into a joint venture agreement to develop the island into a tourism and mixed-use destination aimed at generating employment and economic opportunities for residents and agrarian stakeholders.

Before that, DAR issued a notice covering about 809.8736 hectares of land owned by SIDECO, placing the property under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

DAR exempted about 475.23 hectares from CARP coverage, while the remaining 334.6436 hectares remained subject to the program pursuant to SIDECO’s request for exemption.

On Nov. 8, 2014, SIDECO, ALI, and FESIFFA executed a CFA in which affected farmers and residents agreed to withdraw agrarian claims, subject to the fulfillment of various social, relocation, and livelihood commitments.

Under the 2014 CFA, SIDECO and ALI committed to providing 30 hectares for residential relocation, 40 hectares for agricultural land distribution, PHP 38 million for livelihood and training assistance, and PHP 76 million for resettlement infrastructure and amenities.

On Feb. 29, 2016, DAR approved the conversion of 334.6436 hectares from agricultural use to commercial or tourism use, subject to compliance with imposed conditions, including the full implementation of the CFA.

While some FESIFFA members welcomed the development, some members of BUFFA expressed concern over what they described as the company’s failure to fully comply with previous agreements involving employment opportunities, livelihood programs, and relocation commitments.

Residents said they do not oppose the island’s development but often feel they have little freedom in decisions affecting their future despite discussions with the developer.

They said their ultimate goal is secure housing, recognized land rights, and sustainable livelihoods that will allow future generations of Sicogon families to thrive alongside the island’s development.