MAKABAYAN CONVENTION IN DAVAO CITY

MAKABAYAN held its Davao City convention on October 17,2009 at Rizal Memorial Colleges gym, Davao City. More than 7,000 delegates coming from different barangay chapters participated in the gathering. Representatives Satur Ocampo, Teddy Casiño both from BAYAN MUNA and Representative Liza Maza of Gabriela Women’s Partylist also attended alongside 8 partylists (Bayan Muna Partylist, Anakpawis Partylist, Gabriela Women's Partylist, Kabataan Partylist, Migrante Partylist, ACT Teachers Partylist, Katribu Partylist, Courage Partylist) individuals and candidates for the local elections Joel Virador, Ariel Casilao and Lea Librado.

Press Release (WITH UPDATES)
October 28, 2009

Satur meets 2,000–strong delegation in Comval convention

Compostela, Compostela Valley ---- A 2,000–strong delegation of farmers, agricultural workers, and lumads hailing from various municipalities in Compostela Valley province flocked the Makabayan Coalition Convention today held at the Compostela Municipal Gym.

During the convention Makabayan senatoriable and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo laid down what he calls platforms that will clearly advance the politics of change --- people empowerment, good governance, upliftment of the poor, development of a pro-Filipino economy, saving the environment, defending our sovereignty, pursuing an independent foreign policy, upholding human rights, promotion of Philippine culture, upholding women's rights and gender equality and working for a just and lasting peace.

Makabayan is composed mainly of progressive partylists Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Anakpawis, Kabataan, ACT, Courage, Katribu, and Migrante as well as of local leaders. Its candidates and members are united in the common aim of advancing pro-people and nationalist platforms both in the local and national arena.

“The delegates came here today with common aspiration to get back the land they deserve and to achieve just peace. The overwhelming warmth and eagerness of the delegates under the Makabayan coalition sends out the strong message that the people of Compostela Valley like the rest of the Filipino people are demanding for genuine political change and concrete programs that would address the root causes of the problems long besetting our nation, especially the poor majority,” said Pedro Arnado, regional coordinator of the Anakpawis partylist.

Other distinguished guests and government officials who attended the convention to express solidarity with Makabayan were former Gov. Jose Caballero, former Monkayo Councilor Bebot Alcaraz, and Monkayo Vice Mayor Avelino Cabag.

Rep. Satur Ocampo’s platform on genuine agrarian reform which aims to resolve landlessness and foreign monopoly of lands and pave the way for national industrialization is the particular concern of the peasants and agricultural workers in the province.

“Rep. Ocampo together with the rest of the pro-people partylists under Makabayan has long been fighting for a genuine land reform in congress through the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) which seeks to end the historical oppression and landlessness of farmers, as well as the institutionalized landgrabbing of foreign transnational companies of our agricultural and ancestral lands,” Arnado said.

Arnado said that problems on massive land conversion and operations of agribusiness companies in the province as well as in the whole Davao region has disenfranchised many farmers of their lands and led to poverty that affects more than 80% of the population.

Arnado added that with the failure of the land reform program, nine (9) years of which was under the watch of the Arroyo administration, farmers are seeking for solutions that would provide long term change, and not mere pallative solutions that traditional politicians have been “bragging” about.

“On the 2010 elections, the farmers’ and the peoples’ demands may well translate their support for candidates that would bring their voices to the House of Representatives or the Senate, candidates who would truly defend their welfare no matter what the cost may be. This is what we are sure with the candidacy of Rep. Satur Ocampo,” Arnado said.

During the convention, Barangay Kagawad Belen Galleto was also declared an official candidate of Makabayan for Pantukan local councilor in the 2010 elections.


For Reference:

PEDRO ARNADO
Regional Coordinator
ANAKPAWIS Partylist
0910-2261000