FOOD. Farmers and supporters from many areas of Davao Region picket outside the regional office of the Department of Agriculture , Thursday, to demand rice assistance and justice for the Kidapawan farmers. (Earl O. Condeza/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – Earlier today, progressive groups set up camp outside the Regional Office of Department of Agriculture here calling for food support for farmers and justice for those killed during Kidapawan protest last April 1.
The group, composed of farmers from communities in Southern Mindanao and support groups, said that they are in protest in demand for the rice distribution, government subsidy for farmers and justice for the slain victims of Kidapawan incident.
“The barricade was essentially a protest of hungry farmers whose only source of food and livelihood was damaged by drought,” said Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas vice chairperson, Lito Lao.
Lao added that, “food is a basic need that the government should have already and adequately prepared in anticipation of the massive hunger and that drought brought.”
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) in Southern Mindanao Spokesperson, Sheena Duazo, said that their protest is a form of solidarity to the farmers who are killed and those who have trumped up charges.
Duazo and Lao hit Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for allegedly “holding the 15,000 sacks of rice” to be donated by the Davao City approved by the city council thru the Mayor’s calamity fund.
“It was held because Alcala said that there are a lot of rice in Kidapawan, maybe there are a lot (rice) but were not given to the farmers,” Duazo said.
“Do not deprive the farmers of the donations from the city,” Duazo telling Alcala.
It was reported that the DA will first exhause their resources before the city of Davao will intervene.
On April 12, Monday, a news report from SunStar Davao, quoting City Administrator Melchor Quitain, said that, “sabi nila (DA) marami daw stocks, so there should be no problem. Let them do their job and we will do ours, kung maubos na ang stocks ng National Government, we will always be there to help. Walang problema,”
Also stated on the said news report, Quitain assured that the funds “will always be available for help.”
‘Harassment’
On Wednesday night, protesters said that there are already hundreds of police officers and swat teams arrived at the surroudings of the protest area.
Lao said that the police do not want the protesters to set up their kampuhan for they are told that it will cause traffic.
Pcsupt. Manuel Gaerlan, Police Regional Office XI director said that they respected the right to assembly of protesters as long they do not step on the rights of the majority and do not cause inconvinience to the public.
“We are not here to hurt or restrict their freedom of assembly, (we) told their organizers to police their own ranks,” Gaerlan said.
PROTEST. Protesters accede to police officers to remove their tents to prevent traffic congestion in the area. (contributed photo)
Lao, on the other hand, said that they were approached by a police officer and told them to remove their tent “as it might cause traffice in the area of protest.”
He said that “we respected what they wanted, we removed our tent,” and clarified that they did not cause traffic in the street as they “were just staying on a vacant parking lot in front of DA XI.
The protesters’ kampuhan will be set up to April 21, tomorrow, in commemoration of Earth Day and will be marching to Freedom Park here.
(with a report from Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
