2 farmers’ groups bond, seek seats in Congress

DAVAO CITY—Two farmers’ organizations have formed a coalition as they seek to become genuine representatives of vegetable vendors and agricultural workers in the country.

The Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines (Vieva Farmers Phils) and the Pambansang Ugnayan ng Magsasaka, Mangingisda at Manggagawang Pilipino recently formalized their union as they eye for party-list seats in Congress in next year’s elections.

According to Vieva Farmers president Lilia Cruz, both groups pledged to “speak for the agriculture sector, protect the rights of the Filipino farmer and make this country a proud leader in agriculture again.”

In a statement, Cruz said the coalition already submitted a petition at the Commission on Elections expressing their intention to vie for seats in Congress allocated for party-list groups.

“What we need in Congress is a farmers’ agenda pushed by farmers for the farmers,” Cruz said.

She said the coalition would adopt the name Vieva Farmers.

She said farmers “comprise a third of our labor force and a third of our land is devoted to agriculture, but the sector’s potential has not been realized because of poor policy support and inadequate resources.”

“As long as we have a nation of farmers whose fates are determined by hacienderos, this will not change,” Cruz said.

The Party-List System Act, or Republic Act No. 7941, was enacted in 1995 to ensure that underrepresented, marginalized and voiceless sectors take part in legislation. Joselle R. Badilla, Inquirer Mindanao