MANILA, Jan. 24, 2010— Church leaders have criticized the government for not consulting with Aurora villagers as much as it has for the investors of the planned economic zone there.

Some priests are reeling from the project, which they fear could displace over 1, 000 farmers, fishermen and Dumagat natives from five villages in Casiguran, Aurora.

Fr. Jose Francisco Talaban of the Nuestra Senora dela Salvacion Parish in Casiguran said the government should be dealing with the affected residents on the same level it does with the investors.

He said the people who are against the proposed Aurora Special Economic Zone (Aseza) are not giving up without a fight, as worries grow that they could lose their sources of livelihood.

“There is no justice here. The law just came without the necessary public consultation,” said Talaban, referring to Republic Act 9490, which Congress passed last year to establish the Aseza.

Talaban said the affected areas are mostly rice granaries and is the source of food and livelihood of residents in these parts of Aurora.

“Aseza is not the solution for the total development in Aurora,” he said.

He also said that several other parishes under the Prelature of Infanta also made a position paper opposing the project due to lack of consultation. (Jason de Asis)