THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT APECO

AN ECONOMIC BRIEFING PAPER ON THE AURORA PACIFIC ECOZONE

Executive Summary Version as of 24 April 2013 Task Force Anti-APECO (NOT FOR QUOTATION)

What is APECO?
APECO, or the Aurora Paci ic Eco!o"ic #o!e a!$ Free%ort Authorit&, is a '(,)(*+hectare s%ecia, eco!o"ic -o!e a!$ ree%ort curre!t,& .ei!/ .ui,t i! the "u!ici%a,it& o Casi/ura!, Aurora0 First created as the Aurora Special Economic one !ASE A" #y the passa$e of %&A& '4'0 in 200() and amended throu$h %&A& 100*3 in 2010) A+E,- today encompasses five !." #aran$ays /ithin ,asi$uran0 o +arcel 1 on Aurora mainland composed of 2r$ys& 3i#et 4 Esteves !4'5 hectares"6 o +arcel 11 on the San 1delfonso +eninsula coverin$ 2r$y&s San 1delfonso) ,o7o and ,ulat !12)42( hectares"& 8he #uddin$ transshipment hu# aims to attract enou$h local and forei$n investment to transform the municipality into a self9sustainin$ industrial) commercial) a$ro9 industrial) tourist) financial and investment centre& +roponents claim A+E,- /ill alleviate poverty in ,asi$uran) $enerate employment for province of Aurora) improve livin$ conditions of residents) raise local economic productivity and spur industriali7ation throu$hout :ortheastern +hilippines&

Rai,roa$e$ Histor&, U! ou!$e$ Pro1ectio!s

1n 2005) %epresentative ;uan Ed$ardo <Sonny= An$ara filed >ouse 2ill 102'3 proposin$ the creation of a .009hectare free trade 7one in the +rovince of Aurora& Senator Ed$ardo An$ara filed the similar Senate as Senate 2ill 2503& 2oth #ills /ere approved& I! (223, co!so,i$ate$ .i,, 4as si/!e$ i!to ,a4 as Re%u.,ic Act No0 )5)2 creati!/ the Aurora 6%ecia, Eco!o"ic #o!e Authorit& (A6E#A)0 There 4ere !o 6e!ate heari!/s, ,oor $e.ates, or e7e! a NE8A stu$& to 1usti & its creatio! a!$ atte!$a!t e9%e!ses0 1n 200') ,on$& ;uan Ed$ardo <Sonny= An$ara filed >ouse 2ill 5213 and Sen& Ed$ardo An$ara filed Senate 2ill 340*& 8hese amended %& A& '4'0 #y expandin$ the area of the eco7one to 12)'23 hectares) to #e ?no/n as the Aurora +acific Economic and Freeport one !A+E,-"& 8he consolidated #ill /as approved on 05 -cto#er 200'& I! (( A%ri, (2'2, co!so,i$ate$ .i,, ,a%se$ (!ot si/!e$ .& the Presi$e!t) i!to ,a4 as Re%u.,ic Act '22:*, "or%hi!/ A6E#A ro" a ;22+hectare ree tra$e -o!e to the "assi7e ree%ort o APECO, co7eri!/ '(,)(* hectares o a/ricu,tura, < orest ,a!$s0 From 200* to 2012 A+E,- has #een officially underta?in$ the follo/in$ pro@ects) havin$ received a total of P)':,3:3,*;3022 in the national #ud$et0 o ,onstruction of the A+E,- ,orporate ,ampus o AcAuisition of %i$hts for San 1delfonso +eninsula

o AcAuisition of a#out 1.0)000 m2 lot as site of A+E,- ,ampus o +lannin$B3esi$n9A+E,- Site 3evelopment +ac?a$e o Nayon alikasan >ousin$ +ro@ect /ith :ational >ousin$ Authority !:>A" 6i"u,ta!eous,&, %ro1ects 4ere a,so .ei!/ u!$erta=e! .& APECO that uti,i-e$ u!$s ro" other /o7er!"e!t o ices, &et %ro"ote$ i! the "e$ia as its o4!& 8hese undeclared pro@ects) costin$ a%%ro9i"ate,& P'0)5 .i,,io!) include0 o APECOs P142-million 1.2 km airstrip in 2r$y& Esteves) ,asi$uran) funded #y the 3epartment of 8ransportation and ,ommunications and ,ivil Aviation Authority of the +hilippines !to #e follo/ed #y a +'29million 0&39?m airstrip extension" o APECOs P63-million port improvement project in 2r$y& 3i#acon$) ,asi$uran) funded throu$h the +hilippine +orts Authority !to #e follo/ed #y a +2&49#illion international seaport construction pro@ect" o The P1.66- illion !aler-Casi"#ran hi"h$a% leadin$ to/ards A+E,-) funded #y loans from the Corean Economic 3evelopment ,ooperation Fund& o A P3&.&-million 'loo( control project implemented in ,asi$uranDs ,ala#$an river throu$h the provincial 3+E>) /hich involved Auarryin$ operations that provided mineral materials for A+E,-Ds airstrip o A P1&.&-million maric#lt#re 'ish ca"e park initiated /ith the 2ureau of Fisheries and AAuatic %esources) and promoted as an A+E,- livelihood pro@ect o The P3).&-million ho#sin" project funded #y the ,on$ressional Funds of the Fone 3istrict of Aurora) promoted locally as an A+E,- pro@ect for indi$enous peoples&

CONC>U6ION? A+E,-Ds existence) from its creation to its implementation) has #een characteri7ed #y a visi#le disre$ard for due process& 8he Auestiona#ility of its le$islation and the non9transparency of its #ud$et disclosures is indicative of ho/ A+E,- has failed #asic $overnance standards of transparency) accounta#ility) inclusiveness and effectiveness more $enerally&

U! easi.,e, U!sa e a!$ U!4orth&

Feasi.i,it& stu$ies o! APECO are !o!+e9iste!t ) as admitted #y the incum#ent ,hief Executive -fficer !,E-" himself) Atty& Galcolm Sarmiento) in a letter to the office of Senator Ser$io -smeHa 111 dated 20 :ovem#er 2012& 8his lac? has remained despite prior petitionin$ from Senators durin$ 2010 and 2011 2ud$et deli#erations in the Ipper >ouse for A+E,- to commission such feasi#ility studies& 8he lac? of feasi#ility studies underlines the fact that there are serious Auestions re$ardin$ A+E,-Ds remote location) the inte$rity of its position alon$ trade routes) and its $eneral safety& o *n'rastr#ct#re +e'icit. 8he roads and #rid$es leadin$ to ,asi$uran remain poorly maintained and untena#le for most forms of pu#lic or private transportation& +o/er lines supplyin$ electricity and telecommunications access are similarly lac?in$) as ,asi$uran is located off the :A+-,-% electricity $rid) /hich is li?ely to hamper intensive industrial and commercial activity& o ,at#ral -#lnera ilit%. 1n a Senate >earin$ on A+E,- dated 03 -cto#er 2011) Arch& Felino +alafox) ;r&) the former planner of A+E,-) testified that the soil of the site chose for A+E,- is made of clay and sand thus prone to soil erosion and floodin$& Similarly) studies #y the local $overnment of ,asi$uran

and the 3E:%9GJ2 attest that most areas in ,asi$uran are prone to flash floods) landslides and road /ash9outs that isolate the area for /ee?s& o -#lnera ilit% o' Corporate Camp#s. 8he same studies from the ,asi$uran FJI sho/ed the corporate campus is hi$hly prone to soil erosion and liAuefaction /ithin 2. years) endan$erin$ not only the residents #ut the personnel of A+E,-& A+E,-Ds location /ithin trade routes hampers its accessi#ility and the feasi#ility for investors to set up shop /ithin the eco7one& o .ocation /emoteness an( ,on-Pro0imit% to 1arkets. 8ravelin$ to ,asi$uran ta?es very lon$ hours) on avera$e 10911 hours per trip) due to its isolated location and the rou$h) undeveloped roads o .an( Con'licts. 8he FJI) residents) and concerned sectors said that A+E,too? over private lands) not pu#lic lands& Gultiple affidavits from the residents of ,asi$uran and the San 1delfonso +eninsula illustrate the rampant disre$ard for existin$ and to9#e processed applications for ,ertificates of Ancestral 3omain 8itle !,A38s") ,ertificates of Fand -/nership and AcAuisition !,F-As") and the Inte!rate" #ocial Forestry Certificates of #te$ar"s%i& Contracts !1SF9,S,Ds"& 8hese competin$ land claims may li?ely place hi$her uncertainty amon$ investors as to the ready accessi#ility of land for their proposed pro@ects& ,ontrary to A+E,-Ds pro@ections) there is a severe lac? of demand for the eco7oneDs offerin$s and services /ithin its position in the island of Fu7on) not to mention its position /ithin the tradin$ routes of the Asia9+acific re$ion& o 1ismatche( .a or 2#ppl%. %esidents do not have appropriate s?ills for the ?ind of employment A+E,- /ill provide& Fi?ely @o#s to #e offered to the residents !such as construction9#uildin$" are merely contractual) /hich do not promise sta#le employment& A+E,-Ds plans to outsource Aualified employees) as su$$ested #y former ,E- %o#erto Gathay in the Senate >earin$ of 03 -cto#er 2011) co!tra$icts the e9%ress "a!$ate o the ,a4 to %ro7i$e e"%,o&"e!t to resi$e!ts& o *mpracticalit% 'or Cons#mers an( To#rists' A+E,-Ds distance and inaccessi#ility /ill most li?ely drive consumers to simply floc? to more accessi#le free ports or eco7ones) such as the Su#ic 2ay Free +ort or ,lar? 3evelopment ,orporation&

CONC>U6ION? 8he non9existence of necessary feasi#ility studies and comprehensive plans for A+E,- su$$est that it is not economically via#le& ,ompared to its proponentsD optimism) various o#stacles place dou#ts that A+E,- /ill succeed as a free port&

Fro" Fai,ure to Fai,ure? Fau,t& a!$ Ar.itrar& I"%,e"e!tatio!

Since the passa$e of %&A& '4'0 in 200() A+E,-Ds operations have #ecome notorious for their ar#itrariness) irre$ularity and lac? of accounta#ility& o ,o cons#ltation an( permission 'rom resi(ents o' a''ecte( .34s. 1n a clear violation of (ocal Go)ern*ent Co"e #ec +,c-. +/. an" +0' A+E,authorities displayed i$norance of securin$ residentsD consent via consultation in the Senate 2ud$et >earin$ of 11 -cto#er 2011& ,onsultation process must secure permission of concerned parties !FJI and sectors" /hich A+E,- failed to execute at all&

,o o e(ience to set (irections an( plans. 1n the same Senate 2ud$et >earin$ of 11 -cto#er 2011. former ,E- Gathay admitted that A+E,exceeded ori$inal location !i&e& mainland" and operated in municipal /aters& %&A& 100*3 stipulated that A+E,- is only supposed to cover the mainland& o ,o ECC5 no permits5 no st#(ies. FJIs of the affected municipalities reported that A+E,- #y9passed $overnment reAuirements for conductin$ studies and acAuisition of necessary permits for various su#pro@ects of the eco7one& 8here /as) moreover) no approved @oint @urisdiction of municipal /aters #et/een A+E,- and FJIs& For a,, its h&%e a!$ %u.,icit&, the %ro1ects o%erate$ .& the eco-o!e ai,e$ to ta=e o a!$ re"ai! !o!+o%eratio!a,0 o Casi/ura! @aricu,ture Par= Pro1ect a!$ 6ea4ee$ Pro1ect APECO R%etoric? 1n a 1' Fe#ruary 2013 press statement) former ,E%o#erto Gathay said #oth pro@ects aim to help fisherfol? increase income #y raisin$ $rouper species !e&$& #an$us and tilapia" and plant sea/eeds& In Reality1 A+E,- does not o/n) has not funded) and did not operate the pro@ect& 1t merely too? credit from a partner initiative that the ,asi$uran FJI had /ith the 2ureau of Fisheries and AAuatic %esources !2FA%" /hose former local head /as current A+E,- ,E- Galcolm Sarmiento& Eorse) the mariculture par? pro@ect /as %re7ious,& assesse$ as $a!/erous #y the municipal $overnment of ,asi$uran) after the fish ca$es /ere put up& 1t has induced #ro/nish colorin$ of its ad@acent areas) prolon$ed floods /ithin ,asi$uran and /orsened pollution of surroundin$ /aters& As per present testimonies of the ,asi$uran FJI and residents) the fish ca$es /ere dama$ed #y 8yphoon +edrin$ durin$ Septem#er 2011& 8he promised additional fish ca$es have not #een erected to this day& o 6er7icea.i,it& o the Air%ort APECO R%etoric1 8he eco7oneDs official /e#site and Senator An$araDs press release in the +hilippine 3aily 1nAuirer reported that the airport /ill #oost the accessi#ility of Aurora for #oth domestic and international air traffic& In Reality0 Studies commissioned #y the ,asi$uran FJI said the airstripDs measurement is not at par /ith international standards& Ex9,EGathay admitted in a Senate 2ud$et >earin$ last 11 -cto#er 2011 that the airport did not have feasi#ility study and that it /as desi$ned to #e prepared for floodin$ !i&e& <#uilt on stilts"& 8he stilts) it /as claimed) /ere <miti$atin$ en$ineerin$ solutions&= 8here are conflictin$ advertisements re$ardin$ its actual len$th in the A+E,- /e#site and Senator An$araDs press release& A confidential report to the office of Senator Ser$io -smeHa 111 sho/ed via Joo$leGaps that the proposed expansion of 1&5 ?ms& /ould a ect the Casi/ura! shore,i!e at .oth e!$s, ha"%eri!/ the !atura, ,o4 o ti$e a,o!/ the shores& 8he airstrip suffers from safety issues& 1t is unadvisa#le to have an airstrip straddlin$ the shoreline especially if air%ort is i! the T&%hoo! Be,t& 1n a Senate >earin$ held on 03 -ct 2011) Gathay admitted that the maximum capacity has not #een reached) #ecause there 4ere !o re/u,ar ,i/hts 4ithi! the airstri% si!ce (22:0 o

8he construction of the airport has $is,ocate$ a !u".er o isher o,= a"i,ies, 4ith o!,& a ,i"ite$ a"ou!t o re,ocatio! & Accordin$ to residents as /ell as a Senate 8estimoney #y Fr& +ete Gontallana) parish priest of the municipality of 3in$alan) in a Senate >earin$ on 11 :ovem#er 2010) the area #ecomes less ha#ita#le due to freAuent floodin$ caused #y the airstripDs #loc?a$e of the /aterDs natural flo/& CONC>U6ION? 8he pro@ects pursued #y A+E,-) despite claimin$ to promote the interests and /elfare of the people of ,asi$uran) have failed to live up to initial expectations& 8he lac? of consultation and the incompati#ility of A+E,-Ds pro@ects to ,asi$uranDs necessities illustrate their severe ne$lect of plannin$) competence and accounta#ility&

Irre/u,arities U%o! Irre/u,arities

The i"%,e"e!tatio! o APECOAs %ro1ects is characteri-e$ .& "u,ti%,e a!o"a,ies0 8he situation is such that accounts and policies a#out these activities are conflictin$) even amon$st A+E,-Ds proponents themselves& o Purchase o the 6a! I$e, o!so I!te/rate$ Forest @a!a/e"e!t A/ree"e!t (IF@A) Ri/hts .& I!$ustries 8e7e,o%"e!t Cor%oratio! (I8C) APECO R%etoric1 1n a Senate >earin$ on 11 :ov 2010) A+E,-Ds 3eputy Administrator) %amon Fernando and Senator Ed$ardo An$ara claimed that they #ou$ht ri$hts to protect the area from further lo$$in$ #y the 13, and preserve the pristine condition of the San 1delfonso +eninsula& In Reality1 Accordin$ to the resident A$tas of ,asi$uran) the contract of the 1FGA sale does not address the real violation of their land ri$hts& Even the very 1FGA document held #y 13, denotes that <areas $%ic% are act2ally occ2&ie" 3y in"i!eno2s &eo&les ,IPs- 2n"er a clai* of ti*e i**e*orial &ossession s%all not 3e consi"ere" as &art of t%e IFMA'= The "etho$ o acBuisitio! 4as !ot i! ,i!e 4ith the i!te!tio!0 Ehile Fernando and An$ara claimed they intend to protect environment and residents) they have not $ained the free. &rior an" infor*e" consent !F+1," of the 1+s& 1t also du#ious ho/ the 13,) the lo$$in$ company from /hom A+E,- #ou$ht the 1FGA) /as headed #y its ,hief Executive ;oselito -n$ /ho /as part of the A+E,- #oard since its inception until 2011& There are a,so u!a!s4ere$ Buestio!s o! the !o!+ tra!s era.i,it& o the IF@A ri/hts, 4hich is e9%ress,& state$ o! the IF@A co!tract o I8C0 :either 13, !former o/ner of ri$hts" nor A+E,- paid taxes for the purchasin$ of ri$hts& 8here /as also no pu#lication of payment) a further si$n of their lac? of transparency& o 6a! I$e, o!so Core Housi!/ 6u.%ro1ect0 APECO R%etoric1 1n a press release in JGA ne/s last 2( :ovem#er 2012) as /ell as in a Senate #ud$et >earin$ last 05 Septem#er 200') Senator An$ara claimed this pro@ect /as to provide the 1+s affected #y A+E,-Ds constructions /ith a resettlement area& In Reality1

A+E,- leaders do not a$ree if a #ud$et /as allotted to this pro@ect& Ehile Senator An$ara claims there is a #ud$et for a resettlement area) A+E,- ,E- Sarmiento contradicted him in a Senate >earin$ last 05 Septem#er 2012) sayin$ he ?ne/ of no such funds allotted for a resettlement area& 1n a letter to the 3+E> %e$ional 3irector dated 05 Gay 2012) ,asi$uran Gayor %eynaldo 2iton$ /rote that there /ere no Gulti9 +urpose 2uildin$s #uilt as promised #y the pro@ect& 8estimonies #y San 1delfonso 1+s attest the housin$ provided for them /as inappropriate /ith their traditional /ay of livin$) and they /ere deprived of access to sources of livelihood !e&$& sea"& 8hey also claimed some of them /ere #ri#ed #y A+E,- to serve as the eco7oneDs=forest ran$ers=) as /ell as consent to A+E,-Ds implementation) despite continuous protests from the numerous 1+ communities in 2r$ys& San 1delfonso and ,ulat&

CONC>U6ION? A+E,-Ds actions reveal serious non9transparency) Auestiona#le methods and ar#itrariness& Ehile its proponents maintain they are consistent /ith the $overnin$ principles of %&A&s '4'0 and 100*3) their trac? record sho/s #latant disre$ard for due process) as reflected in the discrepancies #et/een its $oals and present status&

A,rea$& P'(3B i! A!!ua, Fore/o!e Ta9es 8ue to Eco-o!e I!ce!ti7es

A+E,- allo/s forei$n direct investors on the eco7one to operate /ith income tax holidays and various other tax #rea?s) on the assumption that the eco7one /ould #e attractive to investors if they need not pay taxes to operate& >o/ever) separate studies #y UP #c%ool of Econo*ics +rofessor %enato %eside !2005" and pro$ressive economic policy thin?9tan? Action for Econo*ic Refor*s !2010" sho/ that most such incentives are excessive) leadin$ to lost $overnment revenues from uncollected taxes& Eorse) these same studies ar$ued that fiscal incentives are not even a ma@or criterion that potential locators and investors consider in ma?in$ investment decisions such as eco7one accessi#ility) infrastructure) land and la#our costs) and socio9political sta#ility& Estimates #y %eside !2005" also su$$est that due to these eco7onesD ill9conceived tax #rea?s) $overnment is currently fore$oin$ pu#lic revenues of approximately PhP '(3,*3),;5*,5)(035 or "ore tha! P'(3 BI>>ION a!!ua,,& an amount /hich could have #een utili7ed for /elfare services for the Filipino people 0

CONC>U6ION? 8he offer of tax #rea?s #y eco7ones has hardly assured the stimulation of investment in eco7ones& A+E,-Ds <cut9and9paste= tax incentives points to a serious lac? of foresi$ht and deli#eration on the part of the pro@ectDs proponents&

APECO @a& Beco"e A!other 6"u//,i!/ Ha7e! >i=e Port Ire!e

Since the 1'*0s) eco7ones have #een accused #y officials of the 2ureau of ,ustoms of tech!ica, s"u//,i!/ C the mis9declaration of imported items) the

undervaluation of shipment and the misclassification of $oods to incur lo/er tariffs and duties& 8he most infamous smu$$lin$ dens amon$ free ports are the 6u.ic Ba& Free%ort Area and the Ca/a&a! 6%ecia, Eco!o"ic #o!eDPort Ire!e 0 o Earlier in * ;anuary 2013) +ilipinas Shell Vice +resident for ,ommunications %o#erto Canapi reported on oil smu$$lin$ /ithin Su#ic 2ay Freeport) contri#utin$ to annual losses to revenue amountin$ to around E'02* .i,,io!0 o Academics from the Cyoto Iniversity Jraduate School of Economics) +rofessor >iromi Shio@i and ,andy Fim ,hiu) G2A also reported in a 200( study that used car smu$$lin$ in Su#ic 2ay has < $e rau$e$ the Phi,i%%i!e /o7er!"e!t o P' .i,,io! a &ear i! ore/o!e re7e!ue&= o 8he ,a$ayan Special Economic one Authority !,SE A" or +ort 1rene) created #y incum#ent Senate +resident ;uan +once Enrile) has #ecame notorious for importation of used cars into the country& A 200* report #y the American ,ham#er of ,ommerce reported that over :,222 use$ cars /ere smu$$led into the country from ;une 200. to Gay 200*& o 8he importation of used cars in +ort 1rene seems to have continued despite a Supreme ,ourt rulin$ last ;anuary ( upholdin$ a #an on used car importation from ,SE A& Fatest reported shipments include (22 use$ cars last 14th of Fe#ruary) 2013 and 55F "ore in Fe#ruary 23& 8hese threats of smu$$lin$ and massive fiscal losses have not $one unvoiced throu$hout the process of A+E,-Ds creation& o 3urin$ the sin$le) 309minute Senate >earin$ conducted in Septem#er 200' on issues pertainin$ to the esta#lishment of A+E,-) the 4e&art*ent of Finance ,4OF- reiterated its position that there should #e a moratorium on the creation of more free ports in the country& 1ts rationale /as #ased on concerns over fore$one tax la/s and smu$$lin$&

CONC>U6ION? Free ports in the +hilippinesD complicity to smu$$lin$ have made them $reat lia#ilities to the $overnmentDs fiscal position& Should A+E,- #e fully implemented) such pro#lems on smu$$lin$ /ill li?ely crop up in the future as /ell&

A6EAN Eco!o"ic I!te/ratio! .& (2'; @a=es APECO Re$u!$a!t

8he +hilippines is a mem#er of the Association of Southeast Asian :ations !ASEA:") and has #een actively participatin$ in efforts for re$ional economic inte$ration in the ASEA: Economic ,ommunity !AE,"& 8his is pro@ected to #e completed #y the year 201.& Since the ratification of the ASEA: Economic 2lueprint in 200() ASEA: has already #een coordinatin$ /ith countries to implement the full elimination of tariff and non9tariff #arriers on all products and facilitation of trade) as per Article 1391* of the 2lueprint& 8his effectively renders all tax and trade incentives offered #y A+E,- as redundant& 8he AE, has ar$ua#ly more responsive pro$rams than A+E,- to/ards environmental and sectoral concerns& o 8he Action +lan of Article 3'940 of the Economic 2lueprint mandates the implementation of pro$rams to promote the productivity of farmers and fisherfol?) as /ell as the protection environmental enclaves& 8hese /ill #e pursued throu$h research and technolo$y transfer) as /ell as consolidation of a$ricultural cooperatives&

CONC>U6ION? +hilippine o#li$ations to the ASEA: Economic ,ommunity render the fiscal and customs incentives of A+E,- moot and academic& ,ontinued pourin$ of pu#lic funds into A+E,- ma?es poor economic sense for the $overnment&

8ec,are a @oratoriu" o! APECOAs Bu$/et a!$ Acti7ities

8he multiple concerns) violations of proper $overnance processes) and episodes of lac?luster implementation that have characteri7ed A+E,-Ds operations continue to cast dou#t over its capacity to produce positive returns for all the resources funnelled into it& 2ut even if various indicators su$$est that ,asi$uran /ill li?ely prove to #e a poor location for A+E,-) thus posin$ a clear) /asteful drain on pu#lic funds) the implementation of A+E,- may) moreover) har#or adverse) if unintended) repercussions for $overnment throu$h more fore$one revenues stemmin$ from redundant fiscal incentives and freeport smu$$lin$& We thus reiterate a!$ echo the ca,, o Tas= Force A!ti+APECO to i"%ose a "oratoriu" o! APECOAs acti7ities a!$ e9hausti7e,& re7ie4 its $e7e,o%"e!t a!$ i"%,e"e!tatio! G or the /e!era, 4e, are o the %eo%,e o Casi/ura! a!$ Aurora0

,T%is "oc2*ent is only t%e "raft e5ec2ti)e s2**ary of an econo*ic 3riefin! an" &osition &a&er 3ein! &re&are" 3y Task Force Anti-APECO on t%e APECO contro)ersy. an" is not for 62otation 3y *e"ia. researc%ers an" ot%er $riters' For *ore infor*ation a3o2t t%e 3riefin! &a&er an" t%e APECO iss2e. &lease e*ail 7erik'cr289!*ail'co*-

,Task Force Anti-APECO is a coalition consistin! of &ro*inent ci)il society !ro2&s. s2c% as t%e Cat%olic Bis%o&s Conference of t%e P%ili&&ines-National #ecretariat for #ocial Action. :2stice an" Peace ,CBCP-NA##A-. #i*3a%an! (in!ko" n! Bayan ,#(B-. PA I#AMA1 T%e National Confe"eration of #*all Far*ers; an" Fis%ers; Or!ani8ations. t%e #a)e #ierra Ma"re Net$ork Alliance ,##MNA-. t%e Fait%-Base" Con!ress A!ainst I**oral 4e3t ,FCAI4-. t%e Association of Ma7or Reli!io2s #2&eriors. an" ot%er or!ani8ations< to!et%er $it% t%e Prelat2re of Infanta' Con)ene" since +=>=. $e ai* to raise a$areness on t%e sit2ation of *ore t%an ?=== fa*ilies in A2rora t%reatene" 3y t%e A2rora Pacific Econo*ic Zone'-