At around 7:00 in the evening, the police and the protesters await the arrival of Provincial Governor, Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza to end the impasse. (Contributed photo by Kath Cortez)
DAVAO CITY — Many of the protesting farmers who put up a barricade in the national highway of Davao-Cotabato in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato province sprawled on the streets 12 hours after they blocked the road paralyzing traffic in the whole stretch of Quezon Boulevard in Kidapawan City.
In a radio interview with North Cotabato 2nd district Rep. Nancy Catamco, she said the farmers demand was “legitimate”.
“The provincial government should act on that because that is a legitimate concern of our constituents in North Cotabato,” she said.
“Dugay na nagdeclare ang probinsya og state of calamity, pero hangtod karon wala pa nila gipanghatag ang mga bugas. Nganong naghulat pa sila nga naay ingon ana nga panghitabo? Daghan na hinoon ang naapektuhan ani (The province has long declared a state of calamity but until now they have not yet distributed the rice. Why would they wait for this to happen? Because of their slow actions, a lot of people are now affected),” said Catamco.
Anti-riot police forces and members of SWAT team from the North Cotabato Provincial Police Office were also deployed with at least five fire trucks blocking the road.
The police also secured the National Food Authority (NFA) warehouse.
The farmers are waiting for provincial governor, Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza to negotiate with them as they demand for the release of 15,000 sacks of rice, which they claim is part of the calamity fund intended for farmers affected by drought.
In an earlier interview with Norma Capuyan, chairperson of Apo-Sandawa Lumadnong Panaghiusa, she said the farmers decided not to pull out from the barricade unless the governor will talk to them.
Mendoza was reportedly in Manila when the farmers barricaded the highway around 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 30.
Meanwhile, establishments located in the perimeter of the picket line closed as early as 5:00 pm. The Davao Central Warehouse Department Store was closed by 5:00 pm instead of its regular closing time of 7:00 pm.
As of 9:00 pm, Mendoza has not yet visited the picket line for a dialogue with the protesters. (With reports from Danilda L. Fusilero/davaotoday.com)
