A GROUP of farmers belonging to the Buffalo-Tamaraw-Limus (BTL) based in Musuan, Valencia City, Bukidnon set up camp at the Provincial Capitol of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon Wednesday, November 28.
About 300 farmers are in the capitol to pressure the Provincial Government of Bukidnon to start the distribution of the 517-hectare land that has been the subject of farmers’ long struggle since 1987.
The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) in Northern Mindanao said Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri is being passive and slow in addressing this issue.
"The farmers are demanding for immediate implementation of the social services such as farm to market road, irrigation and access to electricity. In line with this, they are also calling on keeping one of Governor Zubiri’s promises --- distribution of fertilizer and seeds,"he said.
The KMP also condemned the continuing alleged harassment of the military under the command of the 88th Infantry Battalion who are encamped inside the BTL Compound.
Since the imposition of Martial Law, the KMP said residents of the BTL community had been the subject of surveillance, forced surrender, threat and maliciously tagging them as supporters and members of the New People’s Army.
"KMP-NMR believes that these recorded incidents are part of the government’s effort to suppress and silence the farmer residents from BTL whose only demand is to claim the land that they have been tilling for decades," the farmers group said.
The BTL farmers plan to stay in the kampuhan until the provincial government of Bukidnon addresses and resolve the issue.