Luisita farmers add to wish list for Digong: Real land reform

AQUINO        JOAN BONDOC

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A union of agricultural workers in Hacienda Luisita, a sprawling estate owned by the family of outgoing President Aquino, urged presumptive President-elect Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte to render justice for farmers in the more than 6,000-hectare landholding through genuine agrarian reform and just wages and benefits.

In an open letter to Duterte, Danilo Ramos, secretary general of Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA or Union of Agricultural Workers), called for an investigation of alleged bribery and use of Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) funds to compensate the Cojuangco family for the more than 4,000 ha that the government covered for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and which were distributed to more than 6,000 farm workers.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes had denied that DAP funds were used for compensation to the Cojuangcos.

The Tarlac Development Corp., the Cojuangco-owned company in Luisita, was paid around P471 million in 2014 for the 4,500 ha that the government took for CARP. Only 4,000 ha were given out because as many as 1,000 ha were reserved for common areas like roads, cemeteries and irrigation canals.

Ramos said the government should cancel the “fake comprehensive agrarian reform program” implemented at the vast sugarcane estate.

Mr. Aquino’s grandfather, Pedro Cojuangco Sr., bought the property, including the sugar mill there using government money and guarantee, with a promise to distribute the lands.

Ramos also asked the incoming President to punish public officials and civilians involved in the so-called Luisita massacre where seven striking workers were killed in a confrontation with policemen and soldiers in November 2004.

The Duterte administration, he said, should work to ensure security of tenure by ending contractualization.

DUTERTE       MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

UMA also wanted regional wage boards to be abolished, pushing instead for a national minimum wage of P750 for employees in private companies, including agricultural workers.

UMA asked Duterte to provide immediate assistance during disasters, accidents and off-season in planting period.

Militant farmers’ groups had earlier asked then candidate Duterte and his rivals Vice President Jejomar Binay and Sen. Grace Poe to include agrarian reform in the election debate.

Rafael Mariano, chair of the left-wing Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, said a presidential candidate’s commitment to genuine agrarian reform should have been expressed in the candidates’ platforms. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon