The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) noted the appeal of Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, to stop the farm strikes, but the farmer’s group said that it would push through with the strikes. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “we will continue the farm strikes to emphasize the demand of peasants to increase the farm gate price of palay (unmilled rice) from P7-P9 to the NFA price of P10.50-12. Besides our demand is legitimate and we also have a right to a decent living,”

“Though we will continue with the strike we have also arranged a dialogue with the Department of Agriculture and the National Food Authority on October 20, to press for our demands. If the traders will come, they are welcome to sit as well. It is harvest season and when it comes to its peak, traders, would even force us to sell our palay at the unholy price of P4-P5. This is very unjust and they might as well ask for it for free. They do not have any respect for the hands that feed them,” added the peasant leader.

The regional chapters of KMP will start the farm strikes on October 18 to demand the increase on the price of palay, to stop the privatization of the National Food Authority, to increase agricultural subsidies to farmers and to call for genuine land reform. The primary regions that will spearhead the protests and farm strikes in Luzon are Central Luzon under the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon and Southern Tagalog under the KASAMA-TK.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information of KMP, “it is not true that when the price of palay is increased the price of rice will also increase. Actually what will happen is that the fat profit of the traders would just be lowered and be redistributed to its rightful owners, the peasants,” 

“On October 19-21 thousands of peasants from all over the country will come here to Manila to face the officials of the Department of Agriculture and National Food Authority concerning their demands. The peasants will also sign the “Manila Declaration” on the 20th, to unite the peasantry on what to do to a president who does not heed their call,” ended Ala. # # #
 

KMP - 17 October 2004