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Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Farmers ‘bury’ anti-CARP solons for continued failure to deliberate CARP reforms bill
Press Release
April 17, 2009
Farmers ‘bury’ anti-CARP solons for continued failure to deliberate CARP reforms bill
Dramatic nationwide actions resumed to push for passage of HB 4077 before June 6 recess
Outraged farmers under the Reform CARP Movement (RCM) symbolically ‘bury’ enlarged pictures of Lower House lawmakers with dirt for Congress’s failure anew to prioritize the discussion of HB 4077 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension with reforms bill when it resumed this week.
Among the ‘interred’ solons were Representatives Iggy Arroyo, Mikey and Datu Arroyo, Villafuerte, Pablo Garcia, Alfredo Marañon, Crispin Remulla, Jeffrey Ferrer, Jose Lacson, Mark Cojuangco, Ebbie Apostol, Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., Jack Duavit, Pryde Teves, and Bernard Piñol. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman was also not spared from the mock burial.
“Inililibing ang mga Kongresistang ito dahil sa kanilang hayagan at patuloy na pagtutol sa pagpasa ng isang kritikal na batas para sa mga mahihirap na magsasaka. Isinasama si Secretary Pangandaman dahil sa kanyang pawang kawalan ng puwersa para ipagtanggol ang CARP sa Kongreso,” disclosed RCM member and PARAGOS Pilipinas President Jimmy Tadeo.
House Speaker Prospero Nograles was tactically spared a full burial because the farmers said they are still giving him a chance to make good his promise to pass the CARP reforms law before the extension of the program expired again by June 30.
“Pinangako ni Speaker Nograles mula pa noong Pebrero na ipapatawag niya ang isang Ad Hoc Committee o TWG (Technical Working Group) para suriin ang mga panukalang reporma sa HB 4077. Pero hanggang ngayon ‘Talagang Walang Ginagawa’ (TWG) lang ang TWG na alam namin nagmula kay Nograles. Nanawagan kami kay Speaker na plenary na lang ang ipatawag para pagusapan na ng buong Kongreso ang bitin na bitin nang pagpasa ng CARP Extension with reforms bill,” said Elvie Baladad of Samahang 54 Ektarya.
“Nasusuya na kami sa mga sirang pangako ng Kongreso na paguusapan agad ang pagpasa ng HB 4077. Mauulit na naman ba ang nangyari noong Hunyo 2008 na sa huling linggo lang bago nag-expire ang CARP nang nagsimula silang magusap? Wala na ba talagang halaga ang kapalaran ng magsasaka sa mga mambabatas natin?” lamented farmer Zaldy Castrojeres of Calatagan, Batangas.
With 50 days to go before the next Congressional recess, the farmers and agrarian reform advocates under RCM are gearing up for more actions nationwide to dramatize and drum up their urgent call to Congress for the immediate passage of the beleaguered HB 4077. More than 500 farmers from Batangas, Bataan, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon are set to march on April 20 from the DAR Central office to the Lower House to issue the call, “PASS CARPer NOW!”.
The Reform CARP Movement (RCM), a coalition of peasant organizations, non-government organizations, party-list organizations and individual advocates started pushing for the extension with reforms of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) last year.#
April 17, 2009
Farmers ‘bury’ anti-CARP solons for continued failure to deliberate CARP reforms bill
Dramatic nationwide actions resumed to push for passage of HB 4077 before June 6 recess
Outraged farmers under the Reform CARP Movement (RCM) symbolically ‘bury’ enlarged pictures of Lower House lawmakers with dirt for Congress’s failure anew to prioritize the discussion of HB 4077 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension with reforms bill when it resumed this week.
Among the ‘interred’ solons were Representatives Iggy Arroyo, Mikey and Datu Arroyo, Villafuerte, Pablo Garcia, Alfredo Marañon, Crispin Remulla, Jeffrey Ferrer, Jose Lacson, Mark Cojuangco, Ebbie Apostol, Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., Jack Duavit, Pryde Teves, and Bernard Piñol. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman was also not spared from the mock burial.
“Inililibing ang mga Kongresistang ito dahil sa kanilang hayagan at patuloy na pagtutol sa pagpasa ng isang kritikal na batas para sa mga mahihirap na magsasaka. Isinasama si Secretary Pangandaman dahil sa kanyang pawang kawalan ng puwersa para ipagtanggol ang CARP sa Kongreso,” disclosed RCM member and PARAGOS Pilipinas President Jimmy Tadeo.
House Speaker Prospero Nograles was tactically spared a full burial because the farmers said they are still giving him a chance to make good his promise to pass the CARP reforms law before the extension of the program expired again by June 30.
“Pinangako ni Speaker Nograles mula pa noong Pebrero na ipapatawag niya ang isang Ad Hoc Committee o TWG (Technical Working Group) para suriin ang mga panukalang reporma sa HB 4077. Pero hanggang ngayon ‘Talagang Walang Ginagawa’ (TWG) lang ang TWG na alam namin nagmula kay Nograles. Nanawagan kami kay Speaker na plenary na lang ang ipatawag para pagusapan na ng buong Kongreso ang bitin na bitin nang pagpasa ng CARP Extension with reforms bill,” said Elvie Baladad of Samahang 54 Ektarya.
“Nasusuya na kami sa mga sirang pangako ng Kongreso na paguusapan agad ang pagpasa ng HB 4077. Mauulit na naman ba ang nangyari noong Hunyo 2008 na sa huling linggo lang bago nag-expire ang CARP nang nagsimula silang magusap? Wala na ba talagang halaga ang kapalaran ng magsasaka sa mga mambabatas natin?” lamented farmer Zaldy Castrojeres of Calatagan, Batangas.
With 50 days to go before the next Congressional recess, the farmers and agrarian reform advocates under RCM are gearing up for more actions nationwide to dramatize and drum up their urgent call to Congress for the immediate passage of the beleaguered HB 4077. More than 500 farmers from Batangas, Bataan, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon are set to march on April 20 from the DAR Central office to the Lower House to issue the call, “PASS CARPer NOW!”.
The Reform CARP Movement (RCM), a coalition of peasant organizations, non-government organizations, party-list organizations and individual advocates started pushing for the extension with reforms of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) last year.#
Friday, March 6, 2009
Militants, farmers press passage of Agrarian Reform bill
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
March 3 CARPER Mass and Procession to Mendiola
HUNGER FOR LAND, HUNGER FOR JUSTICE
invites everybody to join
The Concelebrated Mass for CARPER
Malate Church, Tuesday, 3 March 2009, 2:30-4:00 pm
Main Celebrant:
His Excellency Jose S. Palma, DD
Archbishop of Palo, Leyte
4:00-6:00 pm
Procession, Prayers, and Rosary
from Malate Church To Mendiola
Program and Candlelit Vigil of Farmers to Follow
God Hears the Cries of the Poor
(cf. Exodus 3, 7-9)
OUR POOR FARMERS ARE IN MANILA! THEY HUNGER FOR LAND AND JUSTICE!
1. Congress passed Joint Resolution No. 1, Series of 2009, extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for six months without compulsory acquisition. Worse, the Department of Agrarian Reform issued Memorandum No. 09-01804 halting processing of pending land acquisition folders already in the pipeline;
2. The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved Resolution No. 737 which would amend the Constitution to allow foreign ownership of land. Our farmers are deprived of the right to own farmland so that landowners can sell land to foreigners? This is treasonous. Not only does it mock the social justice spirit of the 1987 Constitution, it also would endanger food and environmental security and strip farmers of their right to development.
3. From 2001 to 2008, 48 farmers have been killed and 19,800 others have become victims of various agrarian-related human rights violations perpetrated by agents of the state, landowners, their goons, and other armed groups.
OUR FARMERS CALL ON PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO AND OUR LEGISLATORS TO:
1. Ensure the immediate passage of House Bill No. 4077 and Senate Bill No. 2666, which both extend CARP with several reforms. This would effectively set aside Joint Resolution No. 1, Series of 2009, and DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804.
2. Render justice and provide protection to all victims of agrarian-related human rights violations.
Ref: PEACE - 434 3003
Hunger for Land, Hunger for Justice Campaigners
Task Force Mapalad, Negros Federation of Farmers Associations(NOFFA)-UNORKA, Bishops Businessmen Conference (BBC) Cluster on Labor and Employment, PEACE Foundation, Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc., KAISAHAN tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan, BALAOD-Mindanao, CAPP-SIAD, SALIGAN, ALG, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, ACCORD; PARRDS, JPICC-AMRSP, Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines, Education for Life Foundation, Federation of Free Farmers, COPE, Task Force Anti-Eviction, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, IDEALS, PAKISAMA, FGS, FTA, PRRM, PKSK, CSI, RCM, Akbayan!, ARC, Asian Social Institute, MFDC, PKKK; PARFUND; PAHRA; Kababaihan-Pilipinas, DAREA, Urban Poor Alliance, Partido ng Manggagawa, Daughters of Charity, AR Now!, ANGOC, Radio Veritas, Catholic Mass Media Network, APL, Sumilao Farmers, TAIDI Farmers, Calatagan Farmers, Banasi Farmers, Valderama Farmers, Duque Farmers, Dr. Mina Ramirez, Former DA Sec. Leonardo Montemayor, Former COMELEC Chairman. Christian Monsod, Dr. Rene Ofreneo, and many other Church and CARPER personalities
invites everybody to join
The Concelebrated Mass for CARPER
Malate Church, Tuesday, 3 March 2009, 2:30-4:00 pm
Main Celebrant:
His Excellency Jose S. Palma, DD
Archbishop of Palo, Leyte
4:00-6:00 pm
Procession, Prayers, and Rosary
from Malate Church To Mendiola
Program and Candlelit Vigil of Farmers to Follow
God Hears the Cries of the Poor
(cf. Exodus 3, 7-9)
OUR POOR FARMERS ARE IN MANILA! THEY HUNGER FOR LAND AND JUSTICE!
1. Congress passed Joint Resolution No. 1, Series of 2009, extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for six months without compulsory acquisition. Worse, the Department of Agrarian Reform issued Memorandum No. 09-01804 halting processing of pending land acquisition folders already in the pipeline;
2. The House Committee on Constitutional Amendments approved Resolution No. 737 which would amend the Constitution to allow foreign ownership of land. Our farmers are deprived of the right to own farmland so that landowners can sell land to foreigners? This is treasonous. Not only does it mock the social justice spirit of the 1987 Constitution, it also would endanger food and environmental security and strip farmers of their right to development.
3. From 2001 to 2008, 48 farmers have been killed and 19,800 others have become victims of various agrarian-related human rights violations perpetrated by agents of the state, landowners, their goons, and other armed groups.
OUR FARMERS CALL ON PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO AND OUR LEGISLATORS TO:
1. Ensure the immediate passage of House Bill No. 4077 and Senate Bill No. 2666, which both extend CARP with several reforms. This would effectively set aside Joint Resolution No. 1, Series of 2009, and DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804.
2. Render justice and provide protection to all victims of agrarian-related human rights violations.
Ref: PEACE - 434 3003
Hunger for Land, Hunger for Justice Campaigners
Task Force Mapalad, Negros Federation of Farmers Associations(NOFFA)-UNORKA, Bishops Businessmen Conference (BBC) Cluster on Labor and Employment, PEACE Foundation, Balay Mindanaw Foundation Inc., KAISAHAN tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan, BALAOD-Mindanao, CAPP-SIAD, SALIGAN, ALG, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, ACCORD; PARRDS, JPICC-AMRSP, Augustinian Missionaries of the Philippines, Education for Life Foundation, Federation of Free Farmers, COPE, Task Force Anti-Eviction, Task Force Detainees of the Philippines, IDEALS, PAKISAMA, FGS, FTA, PRRM, PKSK, CSI, RCM, Akbayan!, ARC, Asian Social Institute, MFDC, PKKK; PARFUND; PAHRA; Kababaihan-Pilipinas, DAREA, Urban Poor Alliance, Partido ng Manggagawa, Daughters of Charity, AR Now!, ANGOC, Radio Veritas, Catholic Mass Media Network, APL, Sumilao Farmers, TAIDI Farmers, Calatagan Farmers, Banasi Farmers, Valderama Farmers, Duque Farmers, Dr. Mina Ramirez, Former DA Sec. Leonardo Montemayor, Former COMELEC Chairman. Christian Monsod, Dr. Rene Ofreneo, and many other Church and CARPER personalities
Thursday, February 26, 2009
AREX UPDATE (February 25)
February 25 was one of the full-packed days for farmers since Day 1 in Manila, the fact that they undertook three activities straight.
Past 10 in the morning, around 250 farmers went to Pasig River below Nagtahan Bridge to commemorate EDSA Anniversary. They floated a three-by-two-foot boat made of styrofoam, on which was written in red: "Pangako ng EDSA, Nasan Na? Lupa sa mga Magsasaka!". Along with the improvised boat were small paper boats that each farmer floated on the river.
However, the floating lasted only briefly when marine forces came to crash the improvised boat.
The event was supposed to be participated in also by farmers coming Bicol and Central Luzon, who were blocked by the police in Lacson St., Manila. Negros farmers came to fetch them. After an hour of program in the street, all farmers marched back to Caritas Manila to take their lunch together.
At 2pm, the farmers marched to Malate Church to hear mass to observe the Ash Wednesday. The mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Fr. Archie Casey, SX, and Fr. John Leydon, Malate Parish Priest, and assisted by Sisters of the AMP.
In addition to solemn and progressive songs, Abp. Ledesma's homily and letter read by TFM President Rodito Angeles characterized the mass. The Abp. said two main messages: a) That ash signifies land, in which farmers live and on which they rely for a living; and b) That Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, of 40 days, which means a very long period of hardship and sacrifice that Jesus Christ before He died. "40 days relate to farmers' long period of difficult life and struggle for land," the Abp. said. At the end of his homily, the Abp. assured the farmers that the Church and poor's solidarity gains the blessing of God so that at the end of the day, justice will prevail.
Ka Rodito read the "Panaghoy ng mga Magsasaka" (Cry of the Farmers), representing all farmers having marched in Manila. In the letter, he appealed to non-farmer folks inside the church to understand the small farmers' situation and undertake actions in support of their cause.
At the tail-end of the mass, which was also attended by Malate parishioners and visitors, all farmers had ash painted on their forehead with the symbol of the cross, by Abp. Ledesma, Frs. Leydon and Casey, and lay ministers.
Inspired by the Ash Wednesday mass, all farmers marched to the Philippine Senate in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. When they arrived in the place, a deliberation on the Visiting Forces Agreement was going on.
While that was taking place, farmer representatives and Abp. Ledesma maximized the time to confer individually with Senators Nene Pimentel, Migs Zubiri, Gringo Honasan, Ed Angara, and Jamby Madrigal. Women farmers appealed to them to act swiftly on CARP extension with reforms. "We were forced to walk from as far as Masbate to reach you, Senator," Ka Eva said to Sen. Honasan.
The staff inside the Senate Hall, as a matter of rule, instructed the farmers to remove the sticker on their shirt which bore the slogans: "Lupa sa Magsasaka! Isabatas House Bill 4077 at Senate Bill 2666!"
Some other farmers visited the offices of the Senators to solicit support. The Chief of Staff of Senator Bong Revilla promised to shoulder the lunch of all marcher farmers on Monday and donate sacks of rice.
Sen. Pimentel asked the farmers not to waste their time listening to the deliberation on the VFA and instead come back on Friday (27 February) for a Agrarian Reform Committee meeting of the Senate. The farmers obliged.
All 400 farmers, bearing with the hurt in their feet for having marched since the morning, marched back to Caritas Manila (except some 70 who are housed in Sto. Nino Parish Church of Bp. Broderick Pabillo).
Past 10 in the morning, around 250 farmers went to Pasig River below Nagtahan Bridge to commemorate EDSA Anniversary. They floated a three-by-two-foot boat made of styrofoam, on which was written in red: "Pangako ng EDSA, Nasan Na? Lupa sa mga Magsasaka!". Along with the improvised boat were small paper boats that each farmer floated on the river.However, the floating lasted only briefly when marine forces came to crash the improvised boat.
The event was supposed to be participated in also by farmers coming Bicol and Central Luzon, who were blocked by the police in Lacson St., Manila. Negros farmers came to fetch them. After an hour of program in the street, all farmers marched back to Caritas Manila to take their lunch together.
At 2pm, the farmers marched to Malate Church to hear mass to observe the Ash Wednesday. The mass was concelebrated by Archbishop Antonio J. Ledesma, Fr. Archie Casey, SX, and Fr. John Leydon, Malate Parish Priest, and assisted by Sisters of the AMP.
In addition to solemn and progressive songs, Abp. Ledesma's homily and letter read by TFM President Rodito Angeles characterized the mass. The Abp. said two main messages: a) That ash signifies land, in which farmers live and on which they rely for a living; and b) That Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent, of 40 days, which means a very long period of hardship and sacrifice that Jesus Christ before He died. "40 days relate to farmers' long period of difficult life and struggle for land," the Abp. said. At the end of his homily, the Abp. assured the farmers that the Church and poor's solidarity gains the blessing of God so that at the end of the day, justice will prevail.
Ka Rodito read the "Panaghoy ng mga Magsasaka" (Cry of the Farmers), representing all farmers having marched in Manila. In the letter, he appealed to non-farmer folks inside the church to understand the small farmers' situation and undertake actions in support of their cause.
At the tail-end of the mass, which was also attended by Malate parishioners and visitors, all farmers had ash painted on their forehead with the symbol of the cross, by Abp. Ledesma, Frs. Leydon and Casey, and lay ministers.
Inspired by the Ash Wednesday mass, all farmers marched to the Philippine Senate in Roxas Blvd., Pasay City. When they arrived in the place, a deliberation on the Visiting Forces Agreement was going on.
While that was taking place, farmer representatives and Abp. Ledesma maximized the time to confer individually with Senators Nene Pimentel, Migs Zubiri, Gringo Honasan, Ed Angara, and Jamby Madrigal. Women farmers appealed to them to act swiftly on CARP extension with reforms. "We were forced to walk from as far as Masbate to reach you, Senator," Ka Eva said to Sen. Honasan.
The staff inside the Senate Hall, as a matter of rule, instructed the farmers to remove the sticker on their shirt which bore the slogans: "Lupa sa Magsasaka! Isabatas House Bill 4077 at Senate Bill 2666!"
Some other farmers visited the offices of the Senators to solicit support. The Chief of Staff of Senator Bong Revilla promised to shoulder the lunch of all marcher farmers on Monday and donate sacks of rice.
Sen. Pimentel asked the farmers not to waste their time listening to the deliberation on the VFA and instead come back on Friday (27 February) for a Agrarian Reform Committee meeting of the Senate. The farmers obliged.
All 400 farmers, bearing with the hurt in their feet for having marched since the morning, marched back to Caritas Manila (except some 70 who are housed in Sto. Nino Parish Church of Bp. Broderick Pabillo).
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