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On anniversary of PD 27:
Peasants call for land, relief and justice
By KMP
Peasants led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant
Movement of the Philippines) commemorated the anniversary of PD 27, the
bogus land reform program of the Marcos dictatorship, on October 21, by a
week-long series of protests and a relief mission to Central Luzon.
KMP said that the October peasant campaign would deal mainly on the call
for Genuine Land Reform and the immediate need of peasants distraught by
typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng for relief and rehabilitation. They have also
called for justice for the victims of human rights abuses under the
Macapagal-Arroyo regime.
Oplan Sagip Kanayunan
Oplan Sagip Kanayunan is a relief effort of peasant organizations to
typhoon-hit areas under the Bayanihan Alay Sa Sambayanan (BALSA) led by
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan). Sagip Kanayunan is led by KMP,
Pamalakaya-Pilipina s, Amihan, UMA, NNARA-Youth, Anakpawis Partylist and
Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP). The effort was able to
deliver relief goods at Bgy. San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal on October 3, 6,
10 and 11. On October 12 and 18, the group delivered relief at Bgy.
Tungkong Mangga, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan. Goods were also delivered at
flooded fisherfolk areas in Binangonan, Rizal on October 4, 7 and 22.
International Rural Women’s Day
About 200 farmers from Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women and KMP
held a camp-out in front of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) to commemorate the International Rural Women’s Day. They have
accused the government, particularly the DENR of allowing mining and
quarrying operations which they claim caused the massive destruction to
their homes and crops brought about by typhoon Ondoy.
Their members who are from Montalban, Rizal, were greatly affected by the
strong waters along Wawa river, causing the total destruction of 34 houses
in Sition Santo Nino and Sitio EEA. Also, connecting water streams
destroyed 4 houses at a nearby Sitio Wawa. Massive landslides also occured
at the area. They have discussed climate change, its main causes and
dangerous effects to the countryside.
World “Foodless” Day
More than a hundred peasants and supporters protested in front of the
Dept. of Agriculture Central Office on October 16 to mark the World Food
Day. To peasants, it was the World “Foodless” Day as liberalization of
agriculture promoted by the government and subservience to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) deepens poverty and hunger in the country. They were
joined by supporters from India, Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Papua New
Guinea, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand and Ecuador who recently participated
an international workshop on hybrid rice held at University of the
Philippines in Diliman. The peasants presented empty sacks of rice to show
that nothing was left as their crops were totally destroyed by the
typhoons.
Also, peasant leaders talked to agriculture officials, accompanied by
Anakpawis Rep. and KMP Chair Rafael Mariano, regarding their promises of
support to peasants and rehabilitation efforts on areas stricken by
typhoons. They also presented their 10-point omnibus demands that mainly
involves concrete support to farmers.
Peasant Caravan for Land, Relief and Justice
On October 18, KMP, Pamalakaya-Pilipina s( fisherfolk) and UMA(agri-workers)
, supported by groups Citizens’ Disaster Reponsce Center (CDRC), Migrante
International, All-UP Workers Union, Anakpawis Partylist, Rural
Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) and individuals, joined the Peasant
Solidarity Caravan for Land, Relief and Justice headed for Bulacan, Nueva
Ecija and Tarlac. They are to deliver relief goods to peasant areas, also,
support their call for Genuine Land Reform at their areas. The caravan was
part of Oplan Sagip Kanayunan.
The 56-strong national contingent led KMP Secretary-General Danilo Ramos
and Pamalakaya-Pilipina s Chair Fernando Hicap proceeded first to Bgy.
Sibul, San Miguel, Bulacan, where the 375-hectare productive agricultural
lands are being grabbed by Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte. The
farmers who are members of the Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (UFAI) and
Lingap Magsasaka, are resisting Rep. Villafuerte’s threat of landgrabbing
and continue to cultivate the lands they have developed since the 1950s.
Rep. Villafuerte is using his daughter’s Green Earth Heritage Foundation
as front to displace the farmers.
The national contingent were then joined by about 200 farmers and
supporters at their solidarity night.
The next day, they proceeded to Gapan City, Nueva Ecija where they were
joined by members of Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (Alliance of
Peasants in Central Luzon) who are farmers from Fort Magsaysay Military
Reservation in Laur and from southern towns of the province. They
proceeded to Cabanatuan City where they marched from the Freedom Park
towards the public market. Afterwards they continued to head towards
Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac City.
The group arrived at Hacienda Luisita late afternoon and landed on Bgy.
Balite near the gate of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac sugar mill. They
were joined by members of United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) and Alyansa
ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Hacienda Luisita (AMBALA). ULWU leaders led by
Lito Bais hosted the group at held their relief mission at a basketball
court in Bgy. Asturias. They were joined by hundreds of residents of
different barangays inside Hacienda Luisita who are now benefitting from
the cultivation of about 2,000 hectares, of crops such as rice, vegetables
and fruits.
The next day, they proceeded towards Bgy. Dolores, San Fernando, Pampanga,
in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Region 3 office. The
group held a short program protesting against massive cancellations of
Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs) and Emancipation Patents
(EPs) in the region. They have lambasted DAR’s inaction and inefficiencies
on the issues of landgrabbing of Rep. Luis Villafuerte in San Miguel,
Bulacan, CLOA and EP cancellations in Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation
and southern towns of Nueva Ecija and the indecisiveness on the issue of
Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac.
The caravan proceeded and pierced through Pampanga and Bulacan. In Malolos
City, they were joined by farmers from Bulacan province also holding a
short program. The group then continued towards Manila to join farmers
from Southern Tagalog and merge in front of the DAR Central Office in
Quezon City.
Southern Tagalog peasant camp-out
About 300 farmer-members of Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog
Katagalugan (KASAMA-TK, Union of Peasant Associations in Southern Tagalog)
held their camp-out in front of the Dept. of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) and DAR on October 19. They are protesting government
inaction on the flooding of bayside towns of Laguna Lake, the construction
of Laiban Dam in Tanay, Rizal and construction of R1 Coastal Road in
Bacoor, Cavite.
The group has protested the massive cancellation of CLOA and EP and
dislocation in Southern Tagalog, particularly in Hacienda Yulo in Laguna,
Camella Homes in Batangas and Ayala properties in Cavite. They held their
solidarity night in front of DENR which was attended by members of groups
from different sectors.
On October 20, they held dialogue with DAR officials, accompanied by
peasant lawyers from Sentro para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo (SENTRA,
Center for Genuine Agrarian Reform). They were also joined by Anakpawis
Rep. and KMP Chair Rafael Mariano. Also, KMP led groups San Isidro
Sandigang Samahang Magsasaka (SASAMAG) from Bgy. Tungkong Mangga, San Jose
Del Monte, Bulacan and Parawagan Upland Farmers Association, Inc. (PUFAI)
from Bgy. San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal.
Solidarity Night
On evening of October 20, hundreds of peasant-members of KASAMA-TK from
Southern Tagalog, AMGL from Central Luzon and Hacienda Luisita agri-workers
merged in front of the DAR Central Office. They were joined by members
from other sectoral groups under Bayan such as Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU),
Kadamay, Anakbayan, Anakpawis Partylist, All-UP Workers’ Union, Migrante
International, ACT, Courage, Gabriela, Health Alliance for Democracy
(HEAD), PCPR, Karapatan and more.
Peasant leaders dumped mud on a large CARPER symbol as their sign of
protest. The program was initiated by KMP Secretary-General Danilo Ramos.
The solidarity night hosted cultural performances from Southern Tagalog
Cultural Network, Axel Pinpin, GARB Kids, People’s Chorale, KUMASA-Rizal,
Karit and more. They were joined by Anakpawis Rep. and KMP Chair Rafael
Mariano. More than 500 attended the solidarity night.
During the solidarity night, peasant and other sectoral groups gave honors
to the fallen martyrs victimized by the Macapagal-Arroyo regime through
its counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya. They have called for
justice as human rights abuses such as extra-judicial killings (EJK),
enforced disappearances and illegal arrests continues. To date, 560
peasants were victims of EJK and 118 of them were leaders of KMP such as
Eddie Gumanoy (KASAMA-TK), Renato Pacaide (KMP Far Southern Mindanao
Region), Marcelino Beltran (AMT Tarlac), Fermin Lorico (Kaugmaon Negros
Oriental), Celso Pojas (FADC Davao City) and more. Moreover Nilo Arado (PAMANGGAS
Panay) and Manuel Merino (AMB) were abducted and still missing.
Peasant Long March for Land, Rehabilitation and Justice
More than 500 peasants from KMP, Pamalakaya-Pilipina s, Amihan, UMA,
KASAMA-TK, AMGL, ULWU, ALMANA-FMMR, PUFAI, SASAMAG and TMUFAI lined up
along Quezon Memorial Circle in front of DAR Central Office. They were
joined by members from Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, KMU, Kadamay, Anakpawis
Partylist, Anakbayan, LFS, HEAD, Courage, Migrante International and other
groups.
The march was backdropped as “Lupa, Rehabilitasyon at Hustisya, Ipaglaban!
CARPER Ibasura!” (Struggle for Land, Rehabilitation and Justice! Junk
CARPER!) They headed towards Mendiola and along Quezon Avenue and Welcome
Rotonda, more groups have joined their long march.
They have reached Mendiola Bridge and commenced with their burning of
1,000 picture of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. The mobilization
reached more than 1,000 activists from different groups. At Mendiola,
Anakpawis Rep. and KMP Chair Rafael Mariano discussed deeply the peasants’
critique of CARPER, mainly regarding the strengthening of landlords’
rights against peasants. According to Mariano, CARPER has empowered more
means for the landlords to displace peasants off their lands.
On the recent effects of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng, they have proposed
their 10-point omnibus demands to the Dept. of Agrarian Reform and Dept.
of Agriculture. They are as follows:
1. the junking of CARPER law and the free distribution of land to landless
and land lacking farmers all over the country;
2. support repair and construction of homes of farmers and rural people
destroyed or uprooted at the height of tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon
Pepeng;
3. rehabilitation of farms and granting of seeds and seedlings for rice,
corn, vegetables and other farm crops;
4. financial grant of about P 10,000 to P 15,000 per hectare;
5. zero interest credit line to the Land Bank of the Philippines amounting
to P 10,000 to
P 15,000 per hectare;
6. provisions for farm implements such as tractors, hand tractors and
carabaos for free.
7. setting up of potable water supply;
8. a halt if not moratorium on irrigation fees imposed by the National
Irrigation Authority and private irrigation systems;
9. livelihood to rural people;
10. automatic repudiation of farm debts, if not moratorium in payment of
principals and interests on acquired loans from landlords and local
financial institutions.
Laguna Lake peasant and fisherfolk organizations are also calling for the
dismantling of Napindan Hydraulic Control Structure in Pasig as it is the
main cause of increase in water level and massive floodings on communities
along the lake.
KMP, with its regional chapters KASAMA-TK (Southern Tagalog) and AMGL
(Central Luzon) affirmed their call for Genuine Land Reform and junking of
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with “Reforms”
(CARPER) or Republic Act 9700.
They are resolutely calling for free land distribution of the haciendas in
Southern Tagalog, Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac, Fort Magsasay Military
Reservation in Nueva Ecija, lands in Bgy. Tungkong Mangga, San Jose Del
Monte, Bulacan and Bgy. San Rafael, Montalban, Rizal. They are also
opposing landgrabbing threats of Rep. Luis Villafuerte in San Miguel,
Bulacan, the construction of Laiban Dam in Tanay, Rizal.
The October Peasant Campaign was considered successful as it deepened the
understanding of peasants and urban-based sectors on the problem of
landlessness, the worse effects of CARPER and the inaction of the
government on countryside disaster areas.
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PRESS RELEASE
October 16, 2009
REFERENCE:
ROY MORILLA, KMP Public Information Officer (63-907-418- 0098)
Groups present to DA 9-point omnibus demands for peasant typhoon
victims
To mark World Food Day, October 16, established by the United Nations Food
and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) since 1981, peasant groups such as
the militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of
the Philippines) , Amihan National Federation of Peasant Women,
Pamalakaya-Pilipina s, UMA and Anakpawis Partylist tabled their 9-point
omnibus demands for peasant victims of typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng to the
Dept. of Agriculture in Quezon City. Their dialogue was beefed up by 150
peasants and supporters from nearby farm areas such as Montalban, Rizal
and San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
"We are formally presenting our immediate demands that would concretely
alleviate the well-being of peasants hit by typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng,"
said Danilo Ramos, KMP Secretary-General.
"Our demands clearly include about support in housing, rehabilitation of
farms, grant of seeds and seedlings for rice, corn, vegetables and other
farmers' crops, financial assistance of about P10,000 to P15,000 per
hectare, a credit line to the Land Bank of the Philippines amounting to
P10,000 to P15,000 per hectare, tractors, hand-tractors and carabao,
setting-up of potable water supply, one year or equivalent to the value of
two successive croppings moratorium on irrigation fees to National
Irrigation Authority and private irrigation systems and livelihood to
seasonal farmworkers, " shared Ramos.
The groups insisted that any assistance should be given to legitimate
peasant and people's organization to avoid vulnerability to scams such as
what happened to the P218.7 million rice scam where support and subsidies
were allegedly given to dummy organization and foundations.
Based on NDCC, damage to agriculture brought about by typhoon Ondoy and
Pepeng reached to P13.2 billion, also caused the 682 deaths, who the
groups believe are majorly peasants. About 140,156 houses were also
destroyed and damaged.
"What we are facing are really serious. Filipino peasants are now in deep
poverty but support from government agencies such as the DA is scarce if
not nil. We could still recall that we asked for help of the DA when
typhoon Frank hit the country last year, seriously damaging the island of
Panay . Our members in PAMANGGAS (KMP Panay Region) asked us to coordinate
with the DA central office but to no avail," Ramos said.
The group was also joined by peasant leaders from DAGAMI (KMP Isabela),
also foreign delegates from India , Indonesia , China , Malaysia , Papua
New Guinea , Bangladesh , Laos , Thailand and Ecuador who participated in
an international workshop regarding hybrid rice at the University of the
Philippines in Diliman. The hybrid rice workshop was sponsored by MASIPAG,
GRAIN and KMP, in line with the World Food Day.
"Also, to us farmers, October 16 is a world foodless day, as we are now
facing the effects of typhoons, and even without, our livelihood are being
slaughtered by unproductive land rent, high cost of production and
competition to cheap imported agricultural products as the Arroyo
government push through with more liberalization of agriculture, " said
Ramos.
The group affirmed that the long-term solution to the food crisis is the
implementation of genuine land reform in the country. This would firmly
secure the supply of food and develop self-reliance. Genuine land reform
also contradicts the market-oriented character of agriculture which gives
primacy to requirements of foreign markets than the needs of the people.
"At present, we call for the immediate support of the government, the
international aid amounting to P0.5 billion should be used directly for
the benefit of the peasant victims and not into someone's pocket," called
Ramos.#
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KASAMA-TK
KATIPUNAN NG MGA SAMAHANG MAGBUBUKID SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN
MEDIA ADVISORY Reference: Imelda Lacandazo
October 16, 2009 Spokesperson, KASAMA-TK
Attention: Newsdesks and Photo Sections
“Genuine land reform: best rehabilitation program for the country”
On October 16, 2009, the peasant group Kasama-TK and other militant
organizations will be organizing a press conference to call for the
junking of the pro-landlord CARPER law, and the legislation of a more
radical and genuine land reform program as a long term-solution to the
effects of recent typhoon disasters.
The press conference will kick-off the series of protest activities set to
commemorate this year’s Peasant Week.
“Farmers are helpless in the face of disasters because of the lack of
livelihood, lack of social services, the lack of a genuine land reform
program, and the incompetency of the Arroyo regime to give immediate
relief and address disaster damages. The state of farmers are even
worsened by continuing repression and militarization in the countryside.
The best way to rehabilitate the country is through radical distribution
of land to farmers.”
- Imelda Lacandazo, Kasama-TK spokesperson |
