(Governor Susan Yap with Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan)
This time it’s Tarlac Governor Susan Yap giving assurance that the New Clark City (NCC) has not caused any displacement.
A statement released to media by the Tarlac Capitol states:
“The governor allayed fears that the-lauded project will result in the displacement of Aeta families.”
“We should not be myopic now that development is already right at our doorsteps,” Yap said in the statement.
Yap, instead, expressed full support for NCC amidst fears that the project will result in the displacement of Aeta communities.
The assurance came days after Capas Mayor Rey Catacutan and some aeta leaders denied news reports about alleged displacement at NCC.
“The NCC is fully consistent with the pillars of my administration in Tarlac Province: jobs, food security, environment, and health,” the governor said.
“I am excited for the development that comes with the construction of NCC, a modern metropolis envisioned to be next growth driver in Luzon. It will be the country’s first smart, green, and resilient metropolis in the country,” Yap said.
Only 3,500 hectares out of the 9,450 hectare – project are buildable, leaving 6,000 hectares or 60% of green and open spaces for upland farming and forest reserves. Less than 40% will be developed.
One of the components of New Clark City, which is located in Capas, a municipality in Tarlac province, is the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC). It involves the construction of back-up offices of various agencies to ensure continuous business operations and services in case of disasters or natural calamities. The development will provide a domino effect locally and will be a big boost on the livelihood of many, especially Tarlaquenos.
“Not only will the project address the congestion problems in Metro Manila, but will also make our province an ideal investment destination in the country.
And this will mean jobs for Tarlaquenos,” she quipped.
Phase 1A of NGAC also features the construction of the state-of-the-art Athletics Stadium and Aquatics Center to be used for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
There are no declared ancestral domains or Certificates of Ancestral Domain Titles (CADT) in the 40-hectare area covered by the NGAC. Thus, Aeta families are not displaced. In fact, New Clark City is creating opportunities for them because they are prioritized in hiring which have made them productive members of the community.
