BMFI

Dec. 3 update:
Perfect time for reflection for the Advent Season

Yesterday, the Sumilao farmers spent much of their time on reflection, which was a perfect time because it was the first Sunday of the Advent Season. In Christian tradition, advent is marked by a spirit of expectation, of anticipation, of preparation, of longing.

To celebrate the occasion, Fr. Jhun Balansag celebrated a mass for the farmers. Fr. Jhun's message of hope and faith raised the morale of the farmers. They got depressed when they learned just before the mass that DAR Secretary Pangandaman announced that he will postpone his visit to Sumilao.

The mass, which was celebrated in the Visayan dialect, started at 6 p.m. The Sumilao farmers acted as readers and psalmists. Rosalyn Batansin-in, who collapsed while they were still in Samar, played the guitar to accompany the singing. It was indeed a community celebration of hope and thanksgiving.

They ate dinner around 7 p.m. Their meal was generously prepared by the parishioners of St. James parish of Alabang.

Earlier in the day, however, the farmers had a learning session where they discussed the insights they gained with their walk from Cabuyao, Laguna to barangay Poblacion, San Pedro, Laguna. Among the things they discussed was how to manage their walk considering they shall face a different terrain upon entering the busy streets of Manila. They also identified who shall compose the speakers' bureau on their way to Malacañang. But aside from the speakers' bureau, each member has prepared to be able to speak in behalf of the group anytime.

Later in the night, the Team Leaders pool had its regular meeting and evaluation. They slept in the basketball court of barangay Poblacion, ready to face the next day of walking. They expected their next days' walk to be more pleasant because the PKSK (Pambansang Kilusan ng Magsasaka sa Kanayunan) committed to walk with them until they will reach the stop-over at night.

Support groups: PAKISAMA leaders and staff; PASCRES, KAISAHAN, Ateneo de Manila students; LGU of Poblacion, San Pedro, Laguna; Samahan ng Magsasaka sa Bay, Laguna (SMBL); Alyansa ng Laguna at Batangas para sa Bundok Makiling (ALAB Makiling); Akabayan Laguna; San Pablo City Government; INDAK; Diocese of San Pablo City; Kalipunan ng mga Mamamayan para sa Ikauunlad ng Calauan (KAMPI Calauan); KASAMA-TK; Ugnayan Tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Victoria; PCCARD; PNP and Traffic Management Group of San Pablo, Calauan, Bay and Los Banos; LGU of Tiaong, Quezon; DAR Bay; SAMMBA; SAMALLA; and SIKHAY.

Ten years ago, some of the petitioners went on hunger strike in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office protesting the approval by then Executive Secretary Ruben Torres of the conversion order of the Quisumbing Estate covering 144 hectares of land in San Vicente, Sumilao, Bukidnon. The controversy reached the national level, even former President Ramos supported the farmers' cause and approved a "win-win" solution where only 44 out of the 144 hectares would be covered by the conversion order. Sadly, the Supreme Court declared that the Ramos solution was issued belatedly and could not reverse the Torres decision.

The conversion order issued by Executive Secretary Torres relied much on the promises of the Bukidnon Agro-Industrial Development Association (BAIDA) development plan which stated, "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."

Today, petitioners come before this Honorable Office to report that nothing has happened with the promises in the conversion order and that the development envisioned by the then Executive Secretary amounted to nothing but false hopes.

Then Governor Fortich of Bukidnon, in a letter to the Office of the President, invoked the vested power of the LGUs to decide what is best for their locality. The LGU openly supported the plan because of the rosy promises of higher taxes and income for the LGU if and when the land is converted to an industrial zone compared to when it remains an agricultural land.

At this point, it must be reiterated that conversion, by nature, is conditional and is premised on the realization of better welfare and improved livelihood of the concerned community if the land -- agricultural in nature -- is used for another purpose.

Unfortunately, after 10 years, nothing has happened to the said land and the people of Sumilao have been rendered unable to avail themselves of and make productive the resources which used to belong to them. Contrary to the plan that the LGU envisioned, no development spurred in the area and the residents remain poor and landless.

Did the State allow itself to be an accomplice to the crime of circumventing the law on agrarian reform by upholding a bogus development plan? Will the State tolerate its continued complicity by refusing to strike down a conversion order even despite the grantee's continued failure to comply with the attached conditions?

The policy of the State on conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses is very strict. According to the DAR, "conversion xxx shall be strictly regulated and may be allowed only when the conditions prescribed under RA 6657 and/or RA 8435 are present and complied with." The zoning ordinance of LGUs must conform to the above policy. RA 6657 mandates that any conversion of agricultural lands must be approved by the DAR. The policy stems from the Constitutional mandate that agriculture is the vehicle to national development.

The State gives preferential attention and protection to the agricultural lands as the country's potential and asset for development. The Supreme Court affirmed this policy in the case of DAR vs Sarangani Agricultural Co, Inc. which declared that the conversion of agricultural lands into non-agricultural uses shall be strictly regulated and may be allowed only when the conditions prescribed under RA No. 6657 are present.

It is not too late for the State to rectify its mistake committed 10 years ago. The State must listen to the collective wisdom embodied in the Constitution and open its eyes to the unmistakable truth—the conversion it has approved rendered the land useless and has adversely affected the livelihood of the Sumilao farmers and their children.