BMFI

Sumilao farmers update
Sumilao Farmers in San Juanico Bridge
3 November 2007

Half the world was sleeping, half the world was awake. And 60 of those who were awake at 12:30 a.m. at the dawn of All Saints Day, 1 November 2007, were the Sumilao farmers and some support groups. They woke up and left the Redemptorist Church in Tacloban City at 2:00 a.m. to get to their next destination for the day – municipality of Sta. Rita. They journeyed for a total of 34 kilometers.

At around 5:10 a.m., the Sumilao farmers reached and crossed the majestic and longest bridge in the Philippines, San Juanico Bridge. Farmers from Ormoc (BRAMO-KAMAO), together with the Redemptorist priests and youth, brought the Sumilao Farmers at this point which separates Leyte and Samar.

The Sumilao farmers were all excited when they reached San Juanico Bridge. They all saw and reached the majestic bridge for the first time. For a moment they all felt lighter as they pass from end to end for the said bridge.

The marchers' smiles filled the air as they head off to the municipality of Sta. Rita. They reached Brgy. Tominamos in Sta. Rita at around 3:30 a.m.

The following day, they started to walk at 5:30 a.m. leaving Brgy. Tominamos. Another day for the marchers and they walked for a total of 34 kilometers. The weather was fine when they began the walk.

But when they reached Brgy. Binanalan, Ka Linda Ligmon, 48, one of the founding leaders of the Sumilao farmers, fainted. And a few meters away from where Linda fainted, Rosita Ecunas, 46, also fainted. Fortunately, the medical team of the marchers headed by Dra. Grace Bag-ao immediately responded to the situation giving the two lady marchers first aid treatment. Some of the men marchers carried them and continued walking. When the two lady marchers had their meal, they decided to continue walking.

They reached their point of destination for the day, Caldiga. They stayed and sought refuge at the Parish Church there.

The Sumilao farmers had their assembly and reflection session. Some of them were thinking whether the government cared to bother what they are going through right now. They were all tired, not of walking, but of the apathy of the present administration. The 2nd of November was their 21st day of walking and they are yet to receive any word or response from the government, particularly from the Office of the President. Of course except for the message of support from Senator Gringo Honasan and some other LGUs, especially from the cities and municipalities they passed in the course of their long march. The assistance of those LGUs were clearly a manifestation of solidarity to the struggle of the Sumilao farmers.

There have been sympathies and different forms of support since the start of the march. From the by-standers to like-minded NGOs and POs, churches and church-based organizations and other individuals and groups, their support are highly appreciated by the farmers. But still, the bottomline of their struggle is certainly not the sympathies of the public but for the disputed 144-hectare landholding in Sumilao, Bukidnon to be given to them.

With this situation, the farmers planned various activities they intend to conduct when they reach Manila. Their plan revealed that they will seek audience with various government agencies aside from the Office of the President. They will visit Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and have a dialogue with the legislators.

The marchers fell asleep with a hope that soon they will reach Manila, talk to various concerned government agencies and claim their land.

After 21 days of walking, most of them are now suffering from cough. They have been walking for more than 500 kilometers amidst the continued sudden change of weather from time to time – from a very hot and humid weather to a rainy weather. Plus, most of the time, though they have their beddings, they were sleeping on the floor.

Certainly the Sumilao farmers do not deserve these sufferings. They are not greedy and all they want is to own and possess what is legally theirs!

Revisiting the Sumilao Land: Lands under CARP are not covered by Sec. 20 of the Local Government Code

The LGU's power of reclassification under the Local Government Code (LGC) cannot affect lands already covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). This is very clear under Section 20 of the LGC itself. In the case of the 144-hectare land, it was already issued a Notice of Coverage and Acquisition long before the passage of Resolution No. 24. Hence, the 144-hectare land could no longer be reclassified by the LGU of Sumilao as the same was already under the CARP process.

Based on the foregoing, the then DAR Secretary Ernesto Garilao denied the application for conversion filed by Quisumbing due to its patent invalidity.

The Torres Conversion Order

However, then Governor Fortich wrote a letter to the Office of the President berating the decision of DAR Secretary Garilao. Apparently, then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres treated the letter as an appeal. Despite the patent illegality of the application for conversion, Torres issued the infamous Conversion Order approving the application for conversion of the land from agricultural to agro-industrial.

Torres justified the Conversion Order by stating that "converting the land in question would open great opportunities for employment and bring about real development in the area towards a sustained economic growth in the municipality. On the other hand, distributing the land to would be beneficiaries (who are not even tenants as there are none) does not guarantee such benefits." The reversal of the DAR decision and the approval of the Conversion Order worked to the great injustice to the Sumilao farmers whose presence, contribution, and stake in the area have been conveniently disregarded.

The Fellowship of the 144-hectare land in Sumilao

The Sumilao Farmers would like to thank the DAR Region and Provinces of Southern Leyte and Western Samar, Monsignor Chiquilio from the Diocese of Calbayog, Calbayog SAC Director Father Cesar Aculan, BRAMO-KAMAO, KAISAHAN, and the Redemptorist Youth. Also to the support extended by the Philippine Study Group of Minnesota (PSGM) and the Human Rights Center of the University of Minnesota.

Their unwavering support and warm welcome to the marchers will always be remembered and will always be part of the soon to be history problem of the Sumilao farmers.

Today and Tomorrow

The Sumilao Farmers will traverse a 36-kilometer road from the municipality of Hinabangan to Catbalogan where they will spend the night. The following day, 4 November 2007, they will negotiate the roads from Hinabangan to Catbalogan.