Sucre Ethique - Philippine : Sugarcane workers : Marañon’s food security program a sham

mercredi 25 janvier 2012

NATIONAL Federation of Sugarcane Workers (NFSW) Secretary General Butch Lozandi called the Food Security Program of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. under his Negros First Agenda a sham and is anti-poor.

Lozandi accused the Provincial Government under Marañon of committing “state sponsored land grabbing” by displacing hundreds of peasants and residents of Hacienda Ilimnan, Barangay Sta. Rosa in Murcia town.

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According to Lozandi, the acquisition of the Provincial Government of the more than 159 hectares property bought from Arguelles family for its cattle and dairy farm project is highly questionable, as peasants and farm workers are supposed to be given the right to till the land under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).

Lozandi explained that the Arguelles family had only 30 hectares of the total property as retention after the hacienda is placed under the coverage of Carp.

The militant leader claimed that, because of the acquisition of the provincial government, farmers who are making a living in the property prior to the acquisition had lost their means of livelihood and, worst, their houses were forcibly demolished and transferred to a relocation site where they do not have any means of livelihood.

He added the displaced farmers had been waiting for their inclusion on the list of beneficiaries for CARP coverage but their hopes had been shattered by the actions of Marañon.

Lozandi also said they had been initiating dialogues with the governor in resolving the problem of affected farmers in Hacienda Ilimnan but the governor refuses to face them.

Marañon insisted that the Negros First Ranch will help provide livelihood for the affected residents and tenants in Hacienda Ilimnan and all the complaints of the farmers had already been addressed.