AGRARIAN farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Occidental were saddened by the rejection of the ad interim appointment of Rafael Mariano as Agrarian Reform secretary by the influential Commission on Appointments (CA) Wednesday.
Mariano, a former Anakpawis partylist representative, is the remaining leftist in the Cabinet of President Rodrigo Duterte.
During his confirmation, Mariano said that he has never participated in or supported armed violent action in pushing his advocacy.
Asked to explain his advocacy, Mariano expressed the belief that the only solution to present social problems is if the government will consider giving the farmers their own land to till.
Joel Nochepo, spokesperson of ECJ Cloa Holders and Farmworkers Association-Task Force Mapalad Negros, said the rejection of Mariano is a big loss to the farmers.
“Daw nabalian kami sang isa ka pakpak,” he said.
Nochepo also said it may result to hunger as he feared that delivery of basic services will be affected following Mariano’s exit from the agency.
He said they are planning to stage protest actions though they have yet to meet with other groups.
Nochepo said that under Mariano’s leadership, the land acquisition and distribution program was given due attention.
Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Lucrecia Taberna, in a statement, said they were saddened by Mariano’s rejection as the latter already introduced major changes in the agency relative to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program like the increase in accomplishment in land acquisition and distribution and the introduction of various innovations especially in “killing the killer provisions” of the agrarian laws.
“Ka Paeng (Mariano) is pro-farmer, pro-people, and a real advocate of change especially in pushing the genuine agrarian reform which would end the oppressive feudal policies. He had done major changes. He deserved to be the Secretary of DAR. He is more than qualified. He has a genuine heart for the landless. His thrust and policy directives are anchored to the actual needs of the poor especially the farmers,” she said.
Taberna said that Mariano set a high standard for his successor.
Mariano is the fourth Cabinet appointee of Duterte who failed to secure CA's nod. The CA also rejected the previous ad interim appointments of Perfecto Yasay (Foreign Affairs), Regina Paz "Gina" Lopez (Environment and Natural Resources), and Judy Taguiwalo (Social Welfare).
Mariano, who is the chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, and Taguiwalo were appointed by the President upon the recommendation of communists' political wing, the National Democratic Front. (MPE/EPN with reports from SunStar Philippines)