A bigger agenda?

The local coconut farming sector suspects a much bigger reason behind the removal of Danilo Coronacion as president and chief executive officer of the CIIF Oil Mills.

Coronacion was replaced by presidential appointee Jess Arranza of the Federation of Philippine Industries. And because of Arranza’s close ties with Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. who has been claiming ownership of CIIF-funded assets, the farmers are saying that the appointment of Arranza is anti-farmer.

The Alyansa sa mga Maglulubi sa Mindanaw, an association of Mindanao-based small coconut farmers, is saying that as head of the CIIF Oil Mills, Coronacion eagerly supported their welfare through the programs of CIIF.

Under his leadership, the farmers pointed out that cooperatives and associations of small coconut farmers received assistance through the planting and replanting program under the Coco Farm Development Program (CFDP) and that his openness to their participation in policy decision empowered the farmers to shape policies and programs that would fit their needs.

On the other hand, they stressed that Arranza is a staunch support of Cojuangco in his claim over the coconut levy funds and even blocked the claims of the Sumilao farmers in Bukidnon.

They believe that with Arranza at the helm of CIIF, Danding Cojuangco will virtually gain control over the bulk of the coco levy funded corporations - from San Miguel Corp. to the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB).

In effect, even if Cojuangco lost his ownership claim in the courts, he would now effectively exercise control over the institutions that manage the coconut levy funds, they said.

They added that Agriculture Secretary Arturo Yap’s endorsement of Arranza indicates an apparent all-out support for Cojuangco.

For its part, the Moro Farmers Association of Zamboanga del Sur (MOFAZS) stressed that the removal of Coronacion from his post at the CIIF is a kick in the teeth of the small coconut farmers.

The group said that under Coronacion’s leadership, small coconut farmers and farm workers benefited from the programs of the CIIF Oil Mills: from the establishment of local copra marketing enterprises by coconut farmers’ cooperatives to securing the supply of coconuts in the country through the planting and replanting program. These programs helped increase the income of coconut farmers and fueled the growth of their organizations, they emphasized.

They added that since the 27 percent shares in SMC are owned by the coconut farmers as already proclaimed by the Sandiganbayan, Cojuangco should no longer be able to lay a hand on these shares and that by controlling the CIIF, he will be able to control the SMC shares.

Meanwhile, in an open letter, several farmers’ groups called on the President to revoke the designation of Arranza as CIIF Oil Mills head. These include the Mindanao Integrated Rural Development Multipurpose Cooperative, Kaugpongan sa mga Mag-uuma Mamumuong Kababayen-an sa Zamboanga del Sur, Moro Farmers Association of Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Occidental Maglulubi Multipurpose Cooperative, Surigao del Sur Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, Toril District Small Coconut Farmers Development Cooperative, Tuanadatu Tribal Agricultural Multipurpose Cooperative, Orient Marketing Cooperative, Domolog Tagaytay Multipurpose Cooperative, Negros del Norte Agricultural Worker and Community Multipurpose Cooperative, Coconut Farmers of Southern Leyte Cooperative, Alliance of Urban and Rural Women in Bukidnon, Panaghiusa sa Tulo Katawhan Kababayen-an sa Kabanikanhan sa Mindanaw, Negros Farmers Council, Centro Saka, Inc., Mindanaw Rural Congress, and the Alyansa sa mga Maglulubi sa Mindanaw.

We are not privy to the President’s reasons for replacing Coronacion with Arranza. But it will be of much help if the President’s men consult the farming sector as to who should be managing such a vital entity such as the CIIF Oil Mills. These oil mills are not just any other oil mills. They are a highly political business, having being funded by the coconut levy. It would probably be more acceptable if a person who is independent of any association with Cojuangco or at least a suspicion of an association with the SMC chairman  is named to the post.

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