Duterte urged to implement genuine agricultural reform

BUTUAN CITY — Mindanao farmers yesterday urged incoming president Rodrigo R. Duterte to implement genuine agricultural reform in an effort to make the majority of poor farmers liberated from the bondage of poverty.

The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Northern and Northeastern Mindanao also asked Duterte to sign into law the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (Garb).

Filed by the late labor leader Crispin Beltran during the 14th Congress, HB 252 is now being sponsored by the members of the Lower House’s progressive bloc that include Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, and co-authored by Representatives Terry Ridon, Neri Colmenares, Carlos Zarate, Luzviminda Ilagan, Emmi de Jesus, and Antonio Tinio.

The farmers also appealed to the incoming Chief Executive to order his appointed incoming agriculture secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol to immediately implement a crackdown on the monopoly of some business tycoons in the agriculture sector since their families own vast tracts of land in different parts of the country.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Task Force Mapalad (TFM), a peasant federation, said thousands of farmers welcomed Duterte’s assertion of carrying out an agrarian reform aimed at dismantling the power of landlords who are maintaining control over vast agricultural holdings that are already subject to redistribution.

TFM said incoming Duterte’s propeasant pronouncement has “breathed new life and guiding light into their unending and oftentimes dark quest for social justice.”

“If there were victories under (President Aquino) version of the CARP, these were mostly won – not through the government’s political will – but by the efforts of the peasants, who fought with their lives and limbs to reclaim the land they have been tilling for decades,” Jose Rodito Angeles, TFM president said in a statement.

TFM farmers have also hailed Duterte’s statement that he would “follow the pattern of socialism” and that he is “angry at the oligarchs (because) they get the fat of the land” and has blamed the government for allowing it.

“If President Rody would follow the socialist path of development, that would mean more equitable distribution of income, wealth and resources by breaking up land monopolies and ending the reign of ‘hacienderos’ (wealthy land owners), who counter reforms so they can continue enjoying wealth built from our backs,” Angeles added.