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Monday, May 22, 2006
Bishops, ulamas vow to support coconut farmers
THE religious community pledged to strengthen information drive to raise awareness on the controversial coconut levy issue.
The Bishops-Ulama-Priests-Pastors-Lumad Conference and the Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao came up with an action plan during its meeting at the Cursillo House in Davao City.
In the unanimously approved action plan, a strengthened information drive surfaced as the most effective way to be of help to the coconut farmers, in alleviating them from their plight, as brought about by the present status of the coconut industry.
With such thrust, it was also agreed to come out with a primer, which will contain the details and all the necessary information regarding the coco levy issue.
Other activities that are lined up include a radio program and seminars, which are based and guided by the teaching of the church that also include the academe in the awareness campaign on the coco levy issue.
In his message during the Coco Levy Forum, former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines president and Davao City Archbishop Fernando Capalla challenged the participants to transform their presence into the interest of helping the coconut farmers, make the interest a concern, and solidify the concern into support for the cause of the coconut farmers.
"I encourage you to listen and be part of the happiness, hope, and sorrows of the coco farmers. And the pursuit is just in time, as the Church celebrates the Year of Social Concerns," Capalla said.
After 18 years of struggle and 10 regional consultations, majority of the coconut farmers agreed Amicable Settlement and Compromise Agreement as the most effective way to resolve the issue.
Leading the delegates of the Coconut Levy forum were the bishops from the Davao-Digos-Tagum-Mati sub-region, Bishops Guillermo Afable of the Diocese of Digos, and Patricio Alo of the Diocese of Mati.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 22, 2006 issue)
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