In this file photo taken on January 2017, the peace panels of the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines signed the ground rules for conduct of the meeting of the reciprocal working committee on social and economic reforms during the third round of talks in Rome, Italy. (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) released a summary of their socioeconomic proposal to the government which would be discussed once the peace negotiations between both parties resume.
The 11-page Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER) was issued on September 19 but was only made public on NDFP’s website on September 28.
The NDFP describes the CASER as the “concrete” and “doable” steps towards taking Filipinos out from poverty, exploitation, and underdevelopment.
It discussed the significance of real agrarian reform in ending rural poverty, and pushed for rapid development in the countryside.
It also proposed to break monopolies through expropriation with selective compensation in private and agricultural lands, fishing grounds, fisheries, and aquaculture while recognizing ancestral domain.
“Land shall be distributed for free with measures against reconcentration,” the proposal read.
It also suggested an “ample” budget for developing agricultural science and technology, agricultural credit, irrigation, post-harvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, and marketing support.
On September 29, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said the CASER is deemed as the “center” of negotiations between the government and the Communists.
Once the formal talks resume, he said both parties will present their own versions of their CASERs.
The fifth round of talks was suspended in May. However, both parties continued to discuss several items on the CASER, which they previously eyed to sign within this year.
Below is the NDFP’s proposed draft of the CASER:
CASER 2017 Executive Summary by Davao Today on Scribd
