Deal #8261

Philippines
Created at
2020-08-19
Last update
2024-05-03
Last full update
2024-05-03

Names of communities / indigenous peoples affected

Name of indigenous people
Agta,
Kalinga
Comment on communities / indigenous peoples affected
Lands acquired for the Ecofuel Project covers farm lands of local non-indigenous residents and indigenous Agta and Kalinga peoples.

Recognition status of community land tenure

Recognition status of community land tenure
Indigenous Peoples traditional or customary rights recognized by government, Community traditional or customary rights recognized by government
Comment on recognition status of community land tenure
Company records indicate that some farmers do not have formal instruments to claim ownership of the land but the company still enter into agreements with them. Documents owners used as proof of ownership include village certifications, tax declarations, and deeds of sale. Those holding formal instruments are farmers owning titled private lands, agrarian reform beneficiaries, and Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA) holders.

Consultation of local community

Community consultation
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
Comment on consultation of local community
Held consultation assemblies and house-to-house but some claim that the process was half-baked, not all important information were provided like impact of sugarcane to soil and environment.

How did the community react?

Community reaction
Mixed reaction
Comment on community reaction
Some local residents back up the project but some also reject it.

Presence of land conflicts

Presence of land conflicts
Yes
Comment on presence of land conflicts
The farmers’ militant struggle against land grabbing and bioethanol plant which was led by KMP and DAGAMI resulted in favor of the farmers and the people of Isabela reported last May 2011.

Displacement of people

Displacement of people
Yes

Negative impacts for local communities

Negative impacts for local communities
Environmental degradation, Socio-economic, Eviction, Violence, Other
Comment on negative impacts for local communities
Opponents of the bioethanol project cite exploitative working conditions on the sugarcane plantation, loss of food sovereignty and food security, harassment and intimidation by the military and paramilitary of those who oppose the bioethanol project, and deceptive and misleading tactics used by ECOFUEL when contracting with farmers to lease their land. The pollution brought by the plant operations also cause respiratory health problems to residents living nearby. On August 2, the bio-ethanol plant was shut down. When the bioethanol plant started its operation on May 2012 it polluted the air, produced unpleasant smell and it released its toxic waste in the surrounding farmlands and Pinacanauan River causing sickness among the residents and successive fish kills in Barangay (village) Lucban in Benito Soliven town,” remarked Cita Managuelod, Executive Director of the Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (Center for Genuine Agrarian Reform) or SENTRA-Cagayan Valley.

Promised or received compensation

Received compensation (e.g. for damages or resettlements)
While some compensation has been provided to displaced families, reports suggest that this compensation is not commensurate to the amount of money families would have earned were they farming the land themselves. According to the information received families who sell rice can earn at least Php 42,000 per hectare per year, those with corn can earn a minimum of Php 5,000-9,300 per hectare per year (depending on the corn variety), and those with bananas can earn a minimum of Php 34,000 per hectare per year. However, information suggests that compensation offered by Ecofuel for the lease of the land for sugar cane production, at Php 5,000 to Php 10,000 per hectare, is often well under the value associated with the land.

Promised benefits for local communities

Promised benefits for local communities
Capacity building, Other
Comment on promised benefits for local communities
on-farm and off-farm jobs; boost local economy

Materialized benefits for local communities

Materialized benefits for local communities
Capacity building, Other
Comment on materialized benefits for local communities
on-farm and off-farm jobs; boost local economy

Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)

Presence of organizations and actions taken (e.g. farmer organizations, NGOs, etc.)
People's Coalition on Food Sovereignity, Organic Consumers Association (USA), Global Forest Coalition (Paraguay), Action Center for Development and Rights (Japan), Friends of Earth (Japan), Philippine Solidarity Network (Canada); and from the Philippines, the Asian Peasant Coalition, Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community (Searice), Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (Agham-Philippines), Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo and the peasant group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and the Danggayan dagiti Mannalon ti Isabela (DAGAMI-Isabela)