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Sunday, May 30, 2004
Mission to probe farmers' plaints
By Jimmy P. Abayon
THE provincial farmers' group Kaugmaon Alang sa Ugma sa Gagmayng Mag-uuma sa Oriental Negros-Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (Kaugmaon-KMP) will conduct separate missions in the interior of Negros Oriental to investigate complaints of farmers in the hinterland barangays of Sibulan, Valencia, Siaton, and Sta. Catalina.
Rene Rombo, provincial chairman of Kaugmaon-KMP, said farmers are complaining of at least three major concerns that include a mining exploration in Barangay Talalak in Sta. Catalina.
The exploration, Rombo said, is now in the level of public hearing.
The other concerns are the alleged non-payment of the benefits promised to the farmers for tree planting and plans to erect military detachments in the hinterland barangays of the three towns.
He said the farmers are also complaining that the government's reforestation program has dislocated them and has affected the productivity of their lands.
The complainants were farmers of Talalak and Nagbinlod in Sta. Catalina, Barangay Dobdob in Valencia, and Mantiquil and Apoloy in Siaton.
The areas are covered by the Tamlang Valley Development Project of the provincial government.
"If proven correct, the issued raised by the residents are legitimate concerns...that might threaten the environment and their means of livelihood," Rombo said.
He said the mission will interview villagers to confirm the complaints, to gather more information on their problems, and the effects of the government programs on their livelihood and the environment.
The mission will be divided into three groups that will travel three different routes starting 6:00 in the morning Sunday from the Fardec office in Dumaguete City.
The first group will be assigned to Tamlang and Kakha in Barangay Talalak and proceed there via Valencia town; the second group will go to Sitio Cagmatok in Mantiquil via Siaton if there is no rain or walk for three hours if it rains; and the third group will go by way of Kawitan in Sta. Catalina for a three-hour walk to Canggabok.
(May 30, 2004 issue)
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