Barranco Villagers Say November 2017 Agreement “Disrespected”

Fabian Cayetano

The November agreement was approved by a supermajority of attendees at a meeting in Toledo. Among other things, it called for the Barranco village council to be fully involved in the decision-making process for logging concessions and activity in the village. But according to Fabian Cayetano, it has been so heavily flouted as to prove worthless.

Fabian Cayetano, Barranco Village Resident

“The agreement has been disrespected outrightly, and dismissed. Hence we come to fight for respect and to champion our cause.  Barranco Village Council chairman and another officer will have to recommend the logging applicant and the recommendation letter must have two signatures, the chairperson and the vice-chairperson. Point two, only people from Barranco area will be allowed to log in the last piece of logging forest in the Barranco area. Point three, Barranco people must receive tangible benefits from the last piece of logging forest left in the Barranco area. Point four, Barranco is to come up with the list of tangible benefits that it wants from the holders of the new logging concession licenses. And the final point, five, successful logging concession license holders must come back to a tripartite meeting, to meet with the people of Barranco to decide what benefits Barranco will get from the 2017-18 logging season in the Barranco logging forest area. Thirty-nine people voted in favour of this agreement; one opposed.”