Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Farmers’ rights taken up in meet
ASIDE from discussing the merits of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) and the plight of the farmers, human rights were also taken up during the Cebu Church-Peasants conference held recently.
With the theme “Journeying with the People; Responding to the Plight of the Filipino Peasants Our Call, Our Challenge,” the conference was held through the efforts of the Central Visayas Farmer’s Development Center (Fardec) and Seminario Mayor de San Carlos.
“The Carp does not work for the majority of the poor” said Glemmar Bacusmo of Fardec, citing the weak points of the program. He also discussed the rights of farmers in owning land.
“Farmers as a whole should not be deprived of the land because the land is a gift from God” Sister Ruth Bardunico, one of the reactors, said.
Vicente Yankin, chairman of Humaludo, a farmer’s organization from Lut-od, Pinamu-ngajan, said he was hoping for the continuing support of the religious sector to the farmers.
“Karong panahuna, paghi-usa ang atong labing gikina-hanglan (At this time, what we need most is cooperation),” he said.
Noemy Truya of the Movement for the Protection of People’s Right talked about the extra-judicial killings.
Aside from discussing the plight of the farmers, the gathering was aimed at promoting unity and cooperation between the church and the peasantry so farmers could be given spiritual guidance and support. It was endorsed by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Preparation
The said event also serves as a preparation for the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ planned rural Congress in 2008.
The conference was attended by peasants and fisherfolks from Tuburan, Toledo City, Danao City, Aloguinsan, Pina-mungajan, Minglanillia, Bor-bon, Cordova, Talisay City and Liloan.
The religious sector was represented by the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Virgen dela Regla, St. Scholastica, St. James the Apostle, St. John Parish, Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Redemptorist. (Candeze R. Mongaya, UP Mass Comm)
