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Farmers from Misor, B’non march to Oro

Thursday, 20 October 2011 00:00

FARMERS coming from Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental would flock to the capitol grounds starting today to dramatize their demand for the no-nonsense implementation of genuine Land reform. The march, dubbed as "Lakbayang Mag-uuma alang sa Yuta, Katungod ug Katilingbanon Hustisya," is part of the celebration of the Farmers' Month. Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) secretary general Richard Colao said organizers were expecting a big crowd. He said various farmers' groups in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental bring with them pressing concerns. They would gather at the capitol grounds and then march around downtown Cagayan de Oro. The "Lakbayan" march commenced in Quezon in Bukidnon, Gingoog City and Lugait in Misamis Oriental.

The marching groups are expected to meet near the capitol for the "Salubungan" and they would proceed to the Pelaez Sports Complex for a concert for "Land, Rights and Social Justice." Tomorrow, they would proceed to the Kiosko Kagawasan in Divisoria for the culminating program. The "Lakbayan" is organized by Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), Amihan-Northern Mindanao, Kalumbay Regional Lumad Organization, Kasama- Bukidnon, Mofa, and the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP) in Northern Mindanao. Colao said he was optimistic that the march would be able to help in bringing the message of the lowly farmers across. He said local governments in the region should help in the genuineimplementation of Land reform.

"There are many laws that are not being full implemented and taken advantage by Land and agribusiness owners in the area. We hope that there would be a real agrarian reform,"

Colao said. KMP records show that in Northern Mindanao alone, three of four farmers till Lands that they do not own. Colao said issues Land grabbing and the lease of vast tracts of Land by multinational companies. According to KMP, Bukidnon is considered as the food basket of Mindanao nd yet much of its agricultural Lands are being controlled by multinational companies.

Of the 315,164 hectares of alienable and disposable properties in the entire province, 79,501 were allotted for the plantation of pineapples while another 31,607 hectares were also allotted for banana plantation to the disadvantage pf farmers, KMP said. The companies include Del Monte Philippines Inc. (DMPI), Davao Agriventures Corporation (Davco)and the Southern Fresh Fruits.

Colao said the failure of the government to fully implement genuine agrarian reform has made the farmers' sector one of the poorest sectors. Colao said the sorry state of farmers in the country became evident with the June 14 "harassment" of members of the Buffalo Tamaraw-Limus Farmers' Association allegedly by guards of the Central Mindanao University (CMU).

By LITO RULONA and ERWIN MASCARINAS
Correspondents