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By Wilhelmina S. Orozco
(Third of four parts)
More than 70 families who till the land used to
live an idyllic life in three barangays of Antipolo—San Isidro
(now San Juan), Inarawan and Bagong Nayon. The Forest Hills project
that carved residential lots and a 36-hole golf course in the
rolling hills around these villages destroyed their dreams, plans
and work they had done on the land.
To lure the farmers to give up their lands, the
developers dangled blandishments before them in the forms of cash, a
free relocation site, free housing materials and transfer.
Acebede Santos, project manager, said Kingsville
“offered each farmer resident P30,000 to P100,000 a lot (actually
more), depending on the structure of the house, the size of the
residents’ plantation, and the length of time they had been there.
We also offered them 80 square meters of relocation lot and house.
Transfer was provided freely.”
Although the residents insist on their right to
stay on the land, Fil-Estate and Kingsville officials consider it
squatting. Santos said, “Actually, ’yung iba diyan nagi-squat
lang…[but] before we do anything, we try to settle it. We sign a
Memorandum of Agreement with the relocatees on the 80-square-meter
lot for their relocation and financial assistance. This started in
1992, or so. We only resort to demolition [once the permit is
given.] Sometimes we turn the task of demolition over to the
barangay. We ask the barangay’s approval before we demolish the
houses. The mayor knows about the demolition. Sometimes we file
ejectment proceedings to others.”
The Manila Times’ interviews with residents
showed the project benefits the developers, the buyers of
residential estates and the golf players but has worsened the lot of
the farmers.
Today, the villagers work as golf caddies in
Forest Hills. A few have become gardeners tending the sprawling
greens. It’s a far cry from farming.
Before, the people gathered communally during
the harvest, sharing the fruits of their labor among themselves. Now
they lead individual lives as laborers in the golf course.
The environmental impact statement cites
benefits for “an exclusive community for the elite as well as the
upper middle class who have a distinct lifestyle of their own (who
would be) provided with first-class amenities. (The project would)
have a proposed detached townhouse, recreational and residential
estate facilities.”
Acebedo Santos, project manager of Fil-Estate,
said that “[they] conceptualized [the project] as a residential
and golf course. It included a socialized housing component to be 20
percent of the project, 500 square meters and above for each
relocatee. It should be open housing or low-cost.”
However, Carlo Sorra, a civil engineer of Fil-Estate,
said the villagers could choose where to relocate. “The location
need not be in or around the area. It could be outside,” he said.
In other words, the residents could be transferred even to Cavite or
Laguna if they are willing.
Huge mansions now dot the residential section of
the project, while the former farmers live in an adjoining two and
five hectares of land, staying in barong-barong within 80 square
meters of lot.
Some of the relocated residents living near the
project see the golf players arrive at the clubhouse in limousines
or SUVs. Who among the farmers can pay for the expensive membership
fee and the golf playing hours? Sorra said the “market price of
Forest Hills golf shares has gone down to about P300,000 secondary
market price. I bought a share and then [resold] it at P300,000.
Sometimes it [could] be P250,000 [per share].”
Besides the shares, a club member also pays
monthly dues of P2,000. With a membership of 1,000 plus, the Forest
Hills could easily get P200,000 a month, apart from its earnings
from restaurants and other businesses inside the club.
“Sa lupa rin lalagpak ang lahat ng ’yan.
Saan pa ba? Pati tayo. Pero ang mahalaga diyan ay kung ano ang
ginawa mo sa lupa noong nabubuhay ka pa [Everyone will drop on the
soil, where else? That includes us. But the more crucial question is
what you did while on earth],” said Rafael Ronquillo, whose mother
was a victim of the land conversion.
Any land project will assume significance only
if it focuses not on implementation and completion but on its
effects on the land and the people.
(To be continued)
Part 1 | Part
2 |
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