|
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Arroyo cancels conversion of disputed land in Bukidnon
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday revoked an order converting a 144-hectare land in Bukidnon into an agro-industrial land from an agricultural land that the Sumilao farmers were contesting, said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.
Bunye, who is also the Presidential spokesman, said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita signed the six-page presidential order on the authority of the President.
Post your comments here on the Makati siege
Ermita immediately delivered the President's order to the Sumilao farmers who were holed up at the nearby College of the Holy Spirit.
Bunye said he, accompanied by Cabinet Secretary Ricado Saludo, gave the copy of the order to their leader Samuel Mirida. The order was read to the Sumilao farmers in English and Filipino and their lawyers, Marlon Manuel and Arlene Bag-ao, further explained it to them.
Bunye also said the farmers had mixed reaction, refusing to say if they were happy or satisfied. He said it would be better to ask the farmers personally.
"(But) I think the farmers can say that the President met with them not once but twice and they heard the discussions and this order is in line with the wishes of the President so I think they can tell you that the President really wants to help," he said.
He added that the government is wiling to assist the farmers in returning to Bukidnon, possibly providing a C-130 to airlift them back to their hometown.
Sumilao farmers walked over 1,700 kilometers for two months to get back the 144 hectares ancestral lands, which is being converted by one of the subsidiary of food and beverage conglomerate San Miguel Corp., to a hog farm.
Under the order, signed at 12:10 p.m., the 144-hectare land is reclassified as an agricultural land, which means that it is "Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) able."
Bunye said the decision was based on Arroyo's personal consultation with the farmers, whom she met Monday afternoon in Malacañang, and on the investigations and recommendations of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which implements the Carp.
The DAR in its report to Malacañang said the NQSR Management and Development Corporation (NQSRMDC), or the Quizumbing group, which previously owned the land, violated the provisions of its agreement with the government when their request to convert the land into agro-industrial from agricultural was approved.
Under the agreement, the NQSRMDC promised to develop 24 hectares of the land into the Development Academy of Mindanao, 67 hectares of which into the Bukidnon Agro-Industrial Park; 33 hectares into forest development, and 20 hectares into support facilities. The NQSRMDC, however, sold the land to San Miguel Food Corporation.
"Based on the DAR's investigation, not one of these conditions or these stipulated projects was implemented. Instead of the projects, they implemented a hog farm in the area which, according to the DAR, is a violation because it changes or it amends the conversion order," he said.
Bunye said San Miguel has 15 days to contest the new order or seek a motion for reconsideration, which is expected and within the existing legal and administrative rules.
Asked if the decision was air-tight and could withstand scrutiny, he said: "What is only being debated here is factual: was there or was there not any violation of he terms and conditions of the conversion. So with the papers submitted, there can be no other conclusion that there was indeed some violation."
Bunye said there were efforts to contact the officials of San Miguel Tuesday but Ermita, at the time he delivered the order to the farmers, was still unable to get hold of them. Reports said the President had talked to San Miguel officials but Bunye said he was not privy to it.
He said that with re-conversion of the land into agriculture, a form of compensation, as stated under the Carp law, maybe provided to the owners. He said this would still be discussed "but this is the initial step because this is the immediately pending petition."
"From our end, what is important is that a case that has been pending and precisely the nature of the case is for the revocation or cancellation of the conversion order well, that case has been resolved and that case was resolved in favor of the petitioner farmers," he added.
The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), for its part, vowed to guard the commitment given by President Arroyo to the Sumilao farmers to implement the Carp.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who met with the President late Monday night at the CBCP head office in Intramuros, Manila, said the decision is fair and impartial.
"The decision of the President to implement Carp soon is favorable to the Sumilao farmers," said Pabillo.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol said as of Monday night, Arroyo was already inclined to approve the request of the farmers.
Apostol said Arroyo after an initial meeting with the farmers Monday afternoon, again met with a smaller group the same night composed of the farmers' representatives, bishops, non-government organizations, and Cabinet officials.
He also assured that San Miguel would be paid for the land through Land Bank of the Philippines.
He added that the order would not be effective until the reconsiderations that maybe sought by San Miguel are resolved. He said the case might even go to the Court of Appeals.
Apostol said the decision could be considered as "very popular" as it is pro-poor but Malacañang would stand on its decision even if some members of the business sector and other sectors take the decision negatively. (JMR/With MSN/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (December 19, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
