‘Gov’t relocation plan waste of time, money’

MANILA, Philippines—A militant organization criticized the government’s plan to relocate more than half a million informal settler-families based in Metro Manila to the provinces by leasing—and distributing—1.5 million hectares of government-owned farmland to them.

Joy Lumawod, spokesperson of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap, said in a statement that the P100-billion project proposed recently by the Aquino administration was only a waste of time and money since it does not really directly address the issue of poverty.

The massive relocation project aims to decongest Metro Manila and improve the country’s agricultural production by “lending, leasing or giving” two hectares of land per indigent family, provided its members develop the property by cultivating agricultural crops.

Aquino earlier said that land could initially be distributed to 560,000 informal settler-families based in Metro Manila.

There will still be poverty and a growing number from the provinces moving to urban centers, Lumawod said.

She added that the government should instead pursue “genuine agrarian reform” in the countryside to help landless Filipinos.

This is, after all, the reason why many migrate to the cities and eventually become informal settlers, Lumawod said.

Aquino should start by distributing the more than 6,000 hectares of land in Hacienda Luisita occupied by his relatives, she said, adding that this was the only way the people would see “sincerity” in his actions.

“If he does nothing to address this long-drawn clamor, then how can we expect him to address the many issues that hound) the majority of our people?” said the urban poor group leader.