Peasant groups call to junk CARP extension, support GARB

San Fernando City, La Union (March 6) – Support for House Bill 3059 otherwise known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) echoed the halls of the SLC gymnasium during the public hearing of the proposed bills for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Members of the peasant alliance Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitation) lead the delegates of progressive  organizations in calling for the ratification of the GARB authored by the progressive Partylist block in the House of Representative. This call is concurrent with the group’s call for the junking of the extension of CARP.

There are currently ten bills proposing for the extension of CARP which will end on July 10 this year after 20 years of implementation. It was first extended for another 10 years in 1998 after the lapse of its original 10-year program. Criticizing its failure to give lands to farmers, Bayan Muna, Anakpawis and Gabriela proposed HB 3059 (GARB) in lieu of the passing of a CARP extension bill.

“The CARP was a failed program right from the beginning. It was designed to fail in order to deceived the farmers and safeguard the interest of big landlords of the country. We support the passing of HB 3059 or otherwise known as GARB which will advocate true and agrarian reform”, Avelino Dacanay of STOP Exploitation explained.

Bayan Muna Representative Ka Satur Ocampo attended the Luzon-wide Public Hearing to explain the proposed HB 3059. He was received with loud applauses from the audience coming from different regions of Luzon. Together with him were resource speakers from the national peasant organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) representing the various regions who shared their bitter experience with the implementation of CARP and persuaded others to junk proposals to extend CARP and instead support HB 3059.

Youth Groups, Anakbayan and College Editor Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also showed support to GARB by conducting a picket-rally outside the Saint Louis College campus and in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office but they were violently dispersed by elements of the San Fernando City Police Force lead by a certain Bersola.

“We criticize the ongoing Luzon-wide Public Hearing right now. It is good that there is a public hearing but the hearings should be done locally in the different regions to facilitate the more effective participation of those who are affected by the law. We also condemn the violent dispersal of our peaceful rally. This only goes to show the fascist character of the government”, Joel Bilog, Chairperson of Anakbayan-La Union said.  

The Public Hearing was concluded with the delegates hopeful Congress will pass a new agrarian reform bill that will truly serve the peasant masses.

Women’s group call for GMA’s ouster

San Fernando City, La Union (March 8 ) - Prayers, chants and candle lights for truth, accountability and change in the government highlighted the celebration of the International Working Women’s Day by the Gabriela Women’s Alliance together with other progressive organization in front of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines.

“This activity is simultaneous with other activities conducted today in celebration of Women’s day nationwide. We chose to celebrate this day in protest of the growing immorality of the present government. We as women are very disappointed of Mrs. Arroyo and her and family’s involvement in the ZTE controversy. She does not exemplify the kind of women we advocate Filipino women should be”, Linda Caluza, Spokesperson of Gabriela-Ilocos Region said in an interview.

Chants extolling women as militant and palaban together with such calling for PGMA’s ouster echoed throughout and in between speeches of the different orators of the affair. The passersby and motorists were also asked and challenged to join in the protest action. The various passing motorists answered positively by honking their vehicles and receiving the statements being distributed, others even applauded the efforts of the protesters.

Members of various youth organizations under the broad alliance Youth for Accountability and Truth Now (Youth Act Now!) also joined the activity in solidarity with the plight of women and the public clamor for truth and change in government. They said the latest ZTE-NBN controversy are just the latest in the long list of reasons why Arroyo should be removed from office.

“The Campus Press have been under constant attacked since the Mrs. Arroyo assumed power in Malacanang. The deterioration of the state of campus press freedom and freedom in general in the country could be attributed to the malevolence of this government to the press. Many student publications have been either closed or threatened closed under the rule of Mrs. Arroyo most recent of prominent of which is the case of Tandem, the official student publication of University of Northern Philippines “, Paola Espiritu, Ilocos Regional Coordinator of College Editors Guild of the Philippines shared.

The activity was concluded with a symbolic candle-lighting for truth and accountability in which the participants made their lighted candles spell the word ‘TRUTH” in the sidewalk in front of the UCCP church.

“The immoral and corrupt acts of this government is not a good example for the youth of today. The Filipino youth has taken a stand to light the way for truth and meaningful change. We challenge many others to stand and be counted. The protest action today in La Union is a testament that the people in the National Capital Region is not alone in the clamor truth, accountability and change in governance. The people in the provinces are united in the stand against immorality, corruption and fascism”, Louie Santos of Youth Act Now stressed.

Forum hosts Freedom lyrics and lines

Agoo, La Union (March 7) – To relive the spirit of patriotism, Forum, the official  student publication of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University-South La Union Campus hosted an invitational music and poetry jam.

Vincent Josue, Editor-in-Chief of the Forum, gave lectures on patriotic poetry while Louie Santos of the Youth Act Now! shared inputs in poetry writing and patriotic music.

A series of workshops on poetry writing and poetry reading was conducted. In addition, patriotic and progressive songs were performed by the officers of the local chapter.

“Campus journalists should write not only about themselves but the society they live in”, shared Jason Necida, participant.

 The guild encourages other publications to conduct same activities or other creative and alternative forms of educating their members and other interested students.

Members of Lorma Highlights, DMMMSU Forum,  PCLU Scribes and officers of the local chapter attended the said activity.