The erstwhile sugar firm Roxas and Co. Inc. on Monday ruled out compensation for some 50,000 Batangas farmers and individuals who stand affected by real estate development plans across three of its largest properties.
In a regulatory filing, RCI acknowledged that while it has a duty to ensure the affected individuals are vacated peacefully, the company has “no other financial obligations to the latter.”
This marks the first time the company said it has no obligation to extend additional compensation to the agrarian reform beneficiaries or ARBs and the informal settlers affected by the planned development.
Last week, some 1,000 Batangas residents gathered at the Makati Freedom Park to protest RCI plans to evict the 50,000 individuals from Haciendas Palico, Banilad and Kaylaway encompassing 2,941 hectares in nine barangays.
Batangas farmers have been protesting a Department of Agrarian Reform order calling for a more equitable distribution of land and more compensation for the ARBs and informal settlers who will be displaced.
The Philippine Stock Exchange sought RCI clarification on the matter after months of protests by farmers as such plans are material information that affects the future of the company.
RCI said it has “no actions planned on the properties and affected parties until our company receives further instructions from the DAR.”
This means any of the alleged 50,000 individuals who are informal settlers and excluded from the decades-old list of over 1,200 ARBs would be evicted from their homes with no compensation.
RCI also said it is completing the highest and best use study and master plan for the estate.
The company questioned the premise of the protests of alleged 50,000 affected individuals.
At the RCI shareholders’ meeting on 29 May this year, RCI chairman Pedro Roxas asserted the data is wrong and that “there are no 50,000 residents in the affected areas”.
”There is nothing for us to discuss with the beneficiaries. We are following the DAR ruling,” he said.
