Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) - Peasant Movement of the Philippines

 
“Coco farmers are in for another headache with new PCA chief!”-KMP

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) aired its disgust with the appointment of Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Paras as the new Philippine Coconut Authority administrator. 

According to Ka Willy Marbella, deputy secretary general of KMP, “Paras has a very shady personality and seems to be part of the DA mafia. Starting from ghost projects in the National Irrigation Administration during his stint in 2002-2004 then to the alleged spending of P541 million in Marcos wealth, supposedly for agrarian reform,”

“During his term at the NIA, almost no irrigation project was implemented, in fact up till now only 4% of the 13,000,000 hectares total agricultural land area of our country is irrigated. Even if we reduce the total to only 10,000,000 hectares, it would just be 5%. Where did all of the NIA’s fund go?” asked the peasant leader.

“Another example is that the P2.7 million fund for the supposed congress of the National Irrigators Association this year, was used not for their congress but for the “hakot crowd” in the EDSA 1 commemoration this year. It seems that he still has clout at the NIA,” said Marbella.

As for his part, Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “Paras like DA Sec. Yap and former undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante were placed in the department by Malacanang to target, control and acquire the coco levy funds. That is one of the reasons why they fired Evangeline Valbuena and the main reason why Paras was appointed in her stead,”

“Pseudo-progressive groups also supported Valbuena’s ouster because it seems that they have already been promised a cut on the coco levy funds when Malacanang gets it. We must again reiterate that the coco levy funds and the assets acquired through it should be frozen until the genuine small coconut farmers themselves are the ones guaranteed to control and manage it,” ended Ala. # # #  
 

KMP - 22 April 2005


 
Home | About KMP | Struggles | Resources