Surigao del Norte prepares for possible relocation of Socorro group amid land lease issue

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 6) — The Surigao del Norte local government on Friday said it has started preparing for the relocation of the members of Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc. (SBSI) after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) suspended its land lease deal with the controversial group.

“We still have land owned by the provincial government. We can move them there if ever it gets to the point of being canceled,” Surigao del Norte Governor Lyndon Barbers told CNN Philippines’ The Source.

The DENR on Sept. 29 suspended the 2004 Protected Area Community-Based Resource Management Agreement (PACBRMA) with the SBSI, pending further investigation into the latter’s alleged violation of the deal’s terms and conditions.

The deal covers 353 hectares of land in the northeast portion of Barangay Sering, overlooking the northeast portion of Bucas Grande Island.

Barbers said the new land is in the mainland of Surigao City, which may not be favorable for the residents who fish for a living.

Assistance from the national government in building shelter and providing assistance for those who will be transferred will be needed, the governor added. He is also coordinating with Socorro officials to know if they have an available lot in their area.

Barbers also said local officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are expected to arrive in Sitio Kapihan on Friday. They will conduct a survey to confirm the number of residents there.

The DSWD will also determine beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Barbers added.

The governor said SBSI can stay in the area for now pending further investigation.

On Thursday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla met with his counterparts from the environment and social welfare departments to discuss steps the government can take to protect the children in Sitio Kapihan. This is amid reports of alleged abuse, forced labor, and marriage among minors being committed by the group.

Remulla said there will be no “dramatic” moves to remove SBSI from Sitio Kapihan.

“There are vested rights that we have to look at. We have to distinguish between those who violated the