Roxas condemns killing of Sumilao-farmer leader

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today condemned the ambush-slay of a famer-leader in Sumilao, Bukidnon and called for an immediate investigation into the incident.

"Mariin kong kinukondena ang walang-saysay na pagpatay sa lider-magsasakang si Rene Penas, na buong tapang na ipinaglaban ang mga karapatan ng ating mga magsasaka, lalo na ang kanyang mga kasamahang Sumilao farmers," he said following reports that Penas, a long-time member of the Akbayan people's group, was killed by a still unidentified man late Friday night.

"Malaking kawalan si Ka Rene sa hanay ng mga magsasaka. Nakakalungkot na isang putok lamang ng baril ng isang bayarang assassin ang naging katumbas ng kanyang mga ipinaglalabang karapatan at prinsipyo. Nararapat lang na bigyang solusyon agad ng ating mga awtoridad ang krimeng ito," he added.

Penas was shot by a hired assassin at around 11 p.m. Friday while bringing home his farm caretaker. Penas, also a paralegal, has been actively fighting for farmers' rights in Sumilao. He is a strong advocate of reforms in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) law and was among the hundreds of farmers and farm workers pushing for an extension of the program for another 5 years.

The Visayan senator urged local government and police officials in Sumilao to track down the identity of Penas' assassin and identify the mastermind behind the ambush-slay.

"Walang mararating ang ating bansa kung patuloy na mananaig ang dahas upang kitilin ang mga hinaing ng bawat mamamayang naglalabas lamang ng kanilang mga hinaing laban sa gobyerno at sa mga liping mapang-api," he said.

He added: "Bigyan natin ng katarungan ang pagpaslang kay Ka Rene! Patuloy nating ipaglaban ang mga karapatang buong sugid niyang itinulak hanggang sa kanyang kamatayan."

Sunday, June 7, 2009 | posted in agriculture, akbayan, carp, mar roxas, philippines, rene penas, sumilao farmers | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas votes YES on CARP

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today voted in favor of the measure extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by five more years, withstanding potential conflicts of interests with his and his family’s personal interests.

"I voted ‘YES’ not withstanding serious reservations relative to potential conflicts of interest. I, myself, am a landowner. I am a potential inheritor of lands. And my family also has lands. I have voted in favor of this measure on the premise that such a vote, indeed, does not benefit my interest and my family’s interest but benefits the interests of a greater number of our people, particularly the farmers and the farm workers," he said during Monday’s voting on the CARPer bill.

Roxas’ family is known to own hectares of lands in Roxas City and Negros province, the roots of the senator’s mother’s family.

He admitted his favorable vote could be "subject to attack relative to voting on a matter that benefits me" but insisted that, "I believe that the measure is overwhelmingly in favor of social justice, in favor of the farmers, and in favor of the farm workers."

"It is on that vein that I sought to overcome my own reservations relative to acting on a matter that may have potential conflict of interest and in this matter, have voted ‘yes’," he added.

Congress has been under pressure to approve the final version of the CARPer bill before sessions adjourn sine die on June 5 because the CARP coverage is set to expire on June 30. The House has yet to finish plenary debates on the measure.

Senators have made sure that rights of agrarian reform beneficiaries are not prejudiced and that provisions of the legislative proposal is not watered down.

Monday, June 1, 2009 | posted in agriculture, carp, mar roxas, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas slams violent dispersal of farmers in Batasan

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday denounced the violent dispersal of farmers holding a rally in front of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday afternoon and slammed Malacañang allies at the House of Representatives for their indifference to the group’s demands.

"Walang mararating ang ating bansa kung pinamumunuan ito ng isang administrasyong nabubuhay sa ilusyong walang ibang mahalagang tinig kundi ang sa sarili niya," he fumed over reports that a team from the Bureau of Fire Protection used water canons to disperse hundreds of rallyists, including Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who was with the farmers.

"Mariin kong kinukondena ang marahas na pagdi-disperse ng napakaraming mga magsasaka mula sa Batasan kahapon ng hapon. Kasama nila ang mga taong-Simbahan, kabilang si Bishop Roderick Pabillo, mga maralitang tagalungsod, at mga lider mula sa hanay ng manggagawa na nakiisa sa kanilang mga hangarin," he added.

The rallyists, composed mostly of farmers from all over the country, have been holding a vigil infront of the Batasan Pambansa since April 13. They are clamoring for an extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which is due to expire on June 30. CARP ensures the farmers’ rights over the lands they till.

The House began its marathon sessions on Monday to pass priority measures eight days before Congress adjourns sine die on June 5. It has at least 12 measures in its unfinished business, including Speaker Prospero Nograles' House Resolution 737 seeking to amend the Constitution's economic provision; the bill for the extension of the CARP with reforms and another measure related to the 2010 elections.

"Matagal nang inaantay ng mga magsasaka ang makatarungang resolusyon sa problema ng repormang pang-agraryo. Malinaw ang ginagawang pagtapak sa karapatan ng ating mga magsasaka. Anumang hinaing, mula sa magsasaka o sa ano pa mang sektor ng lipunan, kailangan itong dinggin sa isang makataong paraan. Hindi tayo aabot sa maayos na solusyon kung sa tuwinang may maglalabas ng kanilang saloobin ay bobombahin sila ng tubig," the Visayan senator said.

"Kasangga ako ng mga api, at patuloy tayong lalaban para sa makatarungang resolusyon sa mga hinaing ng ating magsasaka," he vowed.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 | posted in agriculture, broderick pabillo, carp, mar roxas, philippines, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Mar Roxas on Agriculture

The Problem

Insufficient domestic production of rice: Philippines was once known as the prime exporter of rice, but unfortunately, nowadays, we are importing it. The government wasn't able to harness the skills of our farmers in order to increase our rice production as the demand of it increases and instead focused on short-term solutions and helping foreign farmers rather than ours.

Fertilizer fund scam: Corruption and mismanagement in the government has reached to the Department of Agriculture and spared our farmers from benefiting fertilizers worth P728 Million.

Mar Roxas' Action

10-Year Food Security Plan: Roxas wants to formulate a food security plan that is done quietly but competently in consultation with experts and stakeholders, attuned with global trends and realities but with very clear domestic targets and a realistic to-do list. It must be done soup-to-nuts style, meaning from seed distribution to market access and with social programs to help farmers in between cycles. It must identify the number of driers that the Department of Agriculture (DA) will purchase for our farmers per municipality to prevent spoilage and wastage. It also must include a nationwide irrigation plan and funds for R&D attuned to specific rice productivity targets for the next ten years. It should include a detailed plan for other non-agricultural food sectors as well.

Food Transparency: In filing Senate Bill No. 2161, Roxas wants to seek transparency in all government transactions involving food and basic commodities, especially rice and corn. He believes that part of the people’s basic right of access to adequate and affordable food is giving full access to information on the same, including supply, production and imports, prices, and other factors and risks. The said measure would also help institute good governance in all government actions and transactions in relation to food and basic commodities, and help the government in targeting food distribution and soliciting private sector help in improving food security.

Halting conversions of irrigated land: Roxas wants investigate how much has the government spent on irrigation for these converted lands.

Farmers' accessibility on inputs: Roxas' plan wants to ensure that all of the inputs necessary — seeds, fertilizer, pesticides, among others—must be made available to farmers.

Development of 'small water impounding' irrigation systems: As part of improving our irrigation systems, Roxas wants to develop 'small water impounding' irrigation systems which costs only about P30,000 per hectare, versus large-scale irrigation through dams which costs P100,000 per hectare.

Utilize the Agusan and Lanao marsh areas: Roxas wants to open up the Agusan and Lanao marsh areas for planting, as these are ideal for planting rice, similar to the Vietnamese river delta basin.

Put an end to sugar smuggling: Roxas wants to show political will by putting a stop to sugar smuggling and to negotiate the retention of tariffs on imported sugar.

Agriculture support: Roxas wants to allocate P10 Billion in agriculture support, including programs to provide fertilizer support and rehabilitation and maintenance of 1.4 million hectares of irrigated land nationwide.

Agricultural credit: Roxas has filed Senate Bill No. 2916 that would address the credit needs of peasants while at the same time provides security from risks for formal lending institutions. It intends to increase credit opportunities and investments in the rural agricultural sector by enhancing the value of farmlands as credit instruments in the financial market.

Mar Roxas' Record

Record of Advocacy: Roxas has been in touch with the agriculture sector. As then Department of Trade and Industry Secretary, he has teamed-up with the Department of Agriculture in monitoring the prices of agricultural products and making sure that their producers can have accessibility to the markets. He has been fighting against the sugar smuggling that has continued to exist in the country and has been also in the front of introducing agricultural reforms knowing that the country's agriculture sector is its backbone industry.

In the Senate, he has also been standing up for the side of the farmers as corrupt officials diverted the P728 Million Fertilizer Fund into their own pockets. He continues to wage this fight until the people involved in this scam are proven guilty.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | posted in agriculture, campaign, issues, mar roxas | [ More ]