by Mahar Mangahas | Philippine Daily Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines — Next week, some 55 farmers — 15 of them women — will reach Manila in a quest for social justice, after walking more than 1,600 kilometers from the town of Sumilao in the southern province of Bukidnon, starting last Oct. 10. They regularly walked about 30 km a day, but on Nov. 23 did 52 km to avoid being stranded in flooded areas. They aim to be at Malacañang on Dec. 10, International Human Rights Day.
The walkers are asserting their right as tillers to 144 hectares of prime agricultural land in San Vicente, Sumilao, by virtue of a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) issued to them in 1995 under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Delays, delays, delays. To evade CARP coverage, landowner Norberto Quisumbing stalled by proposing to convert the land to an agro-industrial estate having a development academy, cultural center, institute for livelihood science, sports development complex, agro-industrial park, forest development facilities, 360-room hotel, restaurant, golf course, housing projects, etc., which all proved to be false promises. Agrarian Reform Secretary Ernesto Garilao disapproved it, but then- Governor Carlos Fortich of Bukidnon wrote a letter-appeal to the Office of the President, and Executive Secretary Ruben Torres approved the conversion proposal in 1996.
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One Response
SALUTE for these farmers. Am just wondering what are the hindrances of such things. Why it took thaem a long time to process all the papers. Is there an impedement in the process or what or a huge amount of fee to acquire the land? Am completely confused of the process. Why the government is not supporting these farmers to think the country is an agricultural, the backbone of the economy. Am willing to help but am confused.
MERRY XMAS