Agrarian reform beyond 2006 is bleak -- Pamanggas
Funding assistance for livelihood
projects to increase productivity and
income particularly the women sector
through the promotion of Gender and
Developement initiatives. Last
May 8, 2006, Makato Mayor Jun Legaspi
(2nd from right) handed over to Agbalogo
Farmers Multi- Purpose Cooperative a
check worth P 50, 000 as a seed capital
for women members of the said
cooperative, Receiving the check is
coop Chair Alex Aguirre and witnessed
by (from left to right) MARO Elma Daguno,
officers of AFMPC and PARO I Numeriano
Cordova, Jr.
"Agrarian reform beyond 2006" is the banner theme of the government 18th year anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). "But what's in the future that CARP lies? excellent slogan?" questioned, Nilo Arado Secretary general of Pamanggas.
"For the past eighteen years CARP greatly failed to deliver social justice to the farmers and fundamentally changed the land monopoly in the countryside. Instead, previous administrations and specially the Arroyo administration are fond of building many obstacles to make CARP useless. No way Pres. Arroyo can do it for another year!" Arado stressed.
"Look at the Arroyo government's rationalization program of all national agencies - including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the charter change it desperately pushing, allowing 100% foreign ownership of land and resources and the extrajudicial killings of farmer leaders and activists now number to 258? This will not lead to the realization of genuine agrarian reform but the trampling of farmers rights and interests," Arado said.
Arado characterized the 18th year of CARP implementation as full of deceits and anomalies. He cited the case of Brgy. Parian, Sigma, Capiz, one of the Agrarian Reform Community (ARC) show case of the government as a clear example of big anomaly.
"This is a clear case of collaboration between landlord and the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The actions and orders of DAR Region VI is beyond imaginable," Arado explained.
Arado added further that, "the worsening poverty, malnutrition and hunger in the countryside nowadays is deeply rooted in the issue of farmers' landlessness due to lack of genuine agrarian reform.
He concluded that with the 300% increase of farm implements, 45% increase in rice price and 11% increase of basic commodities in the countryside while in the other hand palay price remain stagnant, farmers cannot expect good life but more of hunger and impoverishment.
Pamanggas will mark the 18th CARP Anniversary by joining a nationally coordinated protest action on June 12, 2006. Five hundred farmers from central, southern and northern Iloilo, will hold a noise barrage at Jaro Plaza, in front of the Cathedral by 12:00 noon.
There are also simultaneous actions in Kalibo, Aklan and Roxas City.