The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) is now setting up an agricultural price-monitoring network to disprove government claims that the recent implementation of the Expanded-Value Added Tax (E-VAT) will not affect agricultural products and inputs as well as basic goods. 

According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of KMP, “we are now mobilizing our chapters all over the country to monitor the prices of all farm inputs, from the fertilizers and pesticides even up to carabao rentals to see whether their prices have gone up. We will also monitor markets to see if traders are cashing in on the E-VAT, because at farm gate prices, we peasants are always disadvantaged with a kilo of palay (unhusked rice) being sold for as low as P4.50, while unscrupulous landlords and traders sell them at the market for at least P18 when husked,”

“With the E-VAT we expect the selling price of rice to further increase. At the very least, we expect a 20% increase in the price of rice. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s propaganda line that the middle class would be the one to bear the E-VAT’s brunt is one big lie, because it would definitely affect the basic masses, particularly us farmers,” added the peasant leader.

Meanwhile Ka Willy Marbella, internal deputy secretary general of KMP said, “it is in this light that we are also now preparing for a coordinated civil disobedience action with other sectors of society, to emphasize the vehement opposition of the masses against the EVAT. For us peasants, we are looking for a nationally coordinated farm strike,”

“We are in 15 regions in the country and in 64 provinces, a nationally coordinated farm strike would have a tremendous impact on the nation and would send a resounding and very clear message to Malacanang: “JUNK E-VAT now”,” ended Marbella. # # #
 

KMP - 1 November 2005