The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) together with its regional chapters today launched the farm strikes to call for the increase on the farm-gate price of palay (unmilled rice) from P7-P9 to the NFA price of P10.50-P12. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “we have noted Sec. Arthur Yap’s plea but we continued the strike to show our seriousness in pushing for our demands and we will not stop until our demands are met,”

“We have been suffering for so long, and all we are asking for now is for us to have a decent living, because we are the ones feeding the nation. It is time that the government and the traders listen and grant our demands. In fact a growing number of peasants only have P8-P9 a day to feed their families, how can we survive if that is the case?” added the peasant leader.

The Cavite chapter of KMP the Kamagsasaka-Ka has now started its farm strike featuring a picket-dialogue and a vigil at the provincial capitol. More than 500 peasants from Tagaytay City, Naic and Dasmarinas will troop to the capitol to dump ipa (rice husk) and coffee driftwood on the grounds of the capitol. While other members will guard their fields and launch operation tulos to carry the calls of the farmers. Dubbed as “Welgang Magbubukid Laban sa Inutil na Pagpapatupad ng Gobyernong Maliksi ng Kaunlaran sa Kanayunan ng Cavite” most of the farmer participants are victims of the land use conversion done in the province by the Maliksi administration.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, said that this action of peasants would culminate in the picket dialogue at the Department of Agriculture national office. “Peasants from all over the country will converge in front of the D.A. and sign the “Manila Declaration” a manifesto of what is to be done by the peasant masses to a president who does not heed their call,”

“Malacanang may scoff at what we are doing as nothing new, but the 1million signature we will collect calling for her resignation shows the Filipino people’s discontent to her rule. And lest Gloria forgets we were also the ones who started the call for Estrada’s ouster and we succeeded,” ended Ala. # # # 
 

KMP - 18 October 2004