FARMERS’ PILGRIMAGE for CARPER |
Why a Farmers’ Pilgrimage for CARPER?
The historic journey of the Sumilao Farmers by walking from Bukidnon to Manila paved the way for their eventual victory after 12 long years of struggle. Their experience leaves prints of hope and inspired other groups to make their own pilgrimage. The same is true with the Banasi and Calatagan farmers who, inspired by the Sumilao farmers’ struggle, walked for more than 444 kilometers from Camarines Norte to Manila and from Batangas to Manila, to claim their lands under agrarian reform.
Their successful campaign exposed the Achilles hill of the landed states and brought agrarian reform to the forefront of national concern. CARP had reached its 20 years of implementation on 15 June 2008, but congress seemed indifferent to the calls of peasant groups to extend and reform CARP. It even disregarded the resounding call of the 79 Bishops for the passage of CARPER. The only thing it did was to issue Joint Resolution No. 19, which only paralyzed CARP, short of killing it.
Calls for an urgent and coordinated response from peasant movements, AR advocates, the Church and Civil Society are overwhelming. The Church, through the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is very consistent in calling for a legislation that will extend and reform CARP. Bishop Pabillo’s hunger strike is a testament to this.
The primary aim then of the Farmers’ Pilgrimage for CARPER is to contribute to the wider agrarian reform struggle to pressure congress to pass CARPER before June 30, 2009. The strategy is to raise the consciousness of the public to take concrete actions and as well as for the farmers to lead the cause by taking the pilgrimage for CARPER.
Considering the time element, 50 Sumilao farmers and other groups will have a caravan from Bukidnon to Visayas, and shall start their walk at the Banasi area in Bicol. The Sumilao farmers will encourage the locals that they shall pass through to join the pilgrimage. It is expected that the pilgrims will increase after every diocesan forum. The core pilgrims shall be joined by the Banasi Farmers upon reaching Banasi, Bula, Camarines Sur. They shall also be joined by the Calatagan Farmers when they reach Batangas. The increasing number of pilgrims shall continue their walk to the House of Representatives in Manila to converge with other farmer groups.
PILGRIMAGE UPDATE
11 February 2009
Today (11 February 2009) marks another historic journey of landless farmers to justice and equity. It is on this day that they embark on a pilgrimage to Manila to pressure congress to extend and reform the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
As a kick-off salvo of their campaign, a CARPER Forum was held this afternoon within the 50 hectares of land that was reclaimed by the Sumilao Farmers from San Miguel. The choice of the place deliberate as it symbolizes victory of the poor and marginalized farmers against the powerful and influential San Miguel.
Atty. Jan Perry Eugenio, legal officer of BALAOD Mindanaw, provided the framework of the forum, and presented the salient provisions of CARPER. After the discussion, there was an open forum. Mr. Rene Penas of the Sumilao farmers read the “Citizen’s Petition to the Congress of the Philippines to Pass the CARP Extension with Reform Bills (House Bill 4077 and Senate Bill 2666)”.
The petition was signed by around 150 participants who attended the forum. The pilgrim-farmers hope to get as many signatures to sign the citizen’s petition in order to show to congress the overwhelming call for it to do its constitutional duty of extending CARP with the necessary reforms.
Bishop Honesto Pacana was present in the forum. He first read the letter of Congressman Ernesto Guingona of the 3rd district of Bukidnon expressing the support to the campaign. He also expressed his disgust over Joint Resolution No. 19, which effectively cancels the distribution of 64 percent (64%) of new lands which are set to be covered by CARP as well as halts the distribution of all lands that are being processed for distribution under the compulsory acquisition mode.
“Joint Resolution No.19 must be stricken down as it violates Constitutional mandate of just distribution of all agricultural lands,” said Bishop Pacana.
The non-implementation of CARP triggered the conduct of this action. He stressed that there is a need to pressure the government particularly our legislators. He challenged our legislators to respect the rights of the farmers and uphold the law and set aside their interests as landlords. He ended his speech by assuring the participants that during the last Bishop’s meeting, they all agreed that the church will give its full support in this initiative. He likewise inspired the people by describing the pilgrimage as “Ray of Hope”, for this action will benefit not only the few but the entire country. And for this, it is expected that the support of the Filipino people across the country is at hand.
He also encouraged the pilgrim-farmers to be steadfast in their commitment, and assured them that his prayers are always with them.
The message of Peter Tuminhay of the Sumilao Farmers was also very emotional as he expressed their commitment to support the campaign on CARPER. Once again, the Sumilao Farmers will go out on streets. This time, it is not only for themselves, but for the other farmers who up to now do not own the land they are tilling. He stressed that the Sumilao Farmers will not stop to participate in public actions as long as injustice exists in our country.
DAR Region X Regional Director Felix Aguhob was also present and assured the farmers that the Department of Agrarian Reform supports this campaign.
PARO Celestiano of Bukidnon on his part closed the forum with warm wishes for the success of the pilgrim-farmers pilgrimage for CARPER. The forum ended around 4:00 in the afternoon. The Sumilao farmers who will join the pilgrimage shall be spending the night with their families and prepare for tomorrow’s caravan and forum to be held in Cagayan de Oro City.
In preparation of the long pilgrimage, the Sumilao Farmers and other farmers in Bukidnon performed a ritual yesterday to ask the spirits to guide the pilgrim-farmers as well as the staff of BALAOD Mindanaw and other support groups who shall join the long pilgrimage.
The ritual started at 10:30 in the morning until 2:00 in the afternoon. The family members of the pilgrims also joined the ritual performed by Datu Nicanor Tuminhay, Marcelo Salagiya, Bernabe Ligmon, and Anao Baloan and made their own prayer for guidance. After the ritual, they shared a community meal.
Two farmers from Davao del Sur also arrived yesterday to join the core pilgrim-farmers all the way to Manila. Farmers from Agusan del Sur are also expected to arrive and join the pilgrimage.
Later in the afternoon, an orientation and internal preparation was conducted, especially to those who have not joined the “Walk for Land, Walk for Justice” campaign. But, this new chapter of their wider struggle will still not be easy for those who joined the 1,700 walk. Like anybody else, they are not immune to long for their family and loved ones, said Rene Penas.
Yet, despite the expected long drawn struggle, the pilgrim-farmers are ready to leave everything to fight for everything that matters to them – their land.
WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THE PASSAGE OF THE CARPER BILL?
· We should push Congress to perform its constitutional duty of enacting a law extending CARP with the necessary reforms especially those contained in House Bill 4077 and Senate Bill 266 at the soonest possible time.
· We must push Congress to revoke Join Rsolution No. 19 in order to give way to land acquisition and distribution through Compulsory Acquisition.
· We should resist and block anti-CARP bills like the Perfecting Amendment Bills proposed by Congressman Villafuerte
· We should continue our struggle of relentlessly upholding the rights of the farmers and farmworkers in order to promote the principles of justice and equity enshrined in our Constitution
· Strengthen our collective resolve and commitment and work to expand agrarian reform constituents to support the nationwide call to extend and reform CARP
