Farmers accuse Ayala Corp of reneging on promises

A group of farmers is accusing the Ayala Corporation (AC) of reneging on promises it supposedly made to over 40 farmers in Laguindingan town, Misamis Oriental some 20 years ago.

Efren Jaramillo, chairman of the Tubajon Farmers Association (TFA), said the Ayala Corporation had promised to pay them a ‘disturbance compensation’ as well as provide a relocation site, livelihood, and school opportunities after they consented to the conversion of the land they were occupying in Barangay Tubajon, Laguindingan town.

Jaramillio said the AC acquired a total of 602 hectares ‘unjustly,’ accusing the company of under paying farmers when it bought the property years ago and of not having the proper documents certifying land ownership.

“Nakaangkon kini ug yuta pinaagi sa pagpanghadlok aron pugos nga mobaligya sa barato ang mga mag-uuma,” he said.

Roger Plana, Misamis Oriental Farmers Association (MOFA) coordinator, urged the AC to pay the protesting beneficiaries citing decisions from the Court of Appeals (CA) and the Supreme Court (SC) as bases for their demand for payment.

The SC ruling came out in 2013.

Plana said both the CA and SC have ruled upholding the position of the dozens of the TFA members.

He said the peasants used to occupy parts of the 602 hectares owned by AC, which they vacated after it was converted from agricultural to industrial.

In response, the AC has issued a statement saying contrary to what has been alleged, it has kept to its end of the bargain, providing the displaced community members with the benefit package.

Yla Patricia Alcantara, of the AC corporate communications, in an e-mail sent on Wednesday, October 25, said the company had an agreement with the residents.

“This was settled years ago and we have not heard of any complaints from those that accepted the package and have moved on,” Alcantara said.

“In connection with the [Department of Agrarian Reform] conversion of AC’s lands in Laguindingan from agricultural to industrial (parts of which AC donated to the Government and which became the site of the Laguindingan Airport) DA, after ocular inspections came up with a list of 438 qualified beneficiaries,” Alcantara said.

She said a memorandum of agreement was arrived at between the beneficiaries and AC providing for benefits for the beneficiaries.

“Since then, 415 of the 438 DAR listed and qualified beneficiaries have availed of the package. The offer remains open for the 23 beneficiaries,” she added.