Marginalized sectors present agenda to bets

CEBU, Philippines - The urban poor and other marginalized sectors yesterday presented their problems to the candidates in the coming May elections and told them to put these in their priorities once they are elected in office. 

Fr. Cris Mostajo of the Task Force on Urban Conscientization (TFUC)-Association of the Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) said that 85-90 percent of the Filipinos suffer from poverty and they are calling the attention of the government to solve their problems.

The members of the marginalized sectors that include fishermen, farmers, workers, women and youth yesterday met with the local candidates during a summit at the St. Theresa’s College which has a theme, “Towards a More Meaningful and Substantial Change in our Country.”

The said summit was attended by the different local candidates including gubernatorial candidate Hilario Davide III, Cebu City north district congressional candidates Mary Ann delos Santos and Francisco Ashley “Ace” Acedillo, Cebu sixth district congressional candidate Victor Biaño, Argao mayoralty candidate Coralou Kintanar, Cebu City mayoralty candidates Rudy Laconza and Anastacio dela Cruz, Lapu-Lapu City mayoralty candidate Lito Ruiz, among others.

In a document presented to the candidates, the farmers’ sector demands that farmers be given their own land through the proper implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and to stop land-grabbing by the private sectors.

Moreover, they also want the House Bill 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill to be approved so that lands covered by the CARP would be distributed for free and the coverage of the agrarian reform would be expanded.

Likewise, they want to eliminate Republic Act (RA) 9700 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) which will extend the funding for land acquisition and distribution with compulsory acquisition and the Stock Distribution Option (SDO) which is a concept of the stock transfer scheme made by the former President Corazon Aquino applied to Hacienda Luisita. According to them, this has become an option to landlords wherein, instead of subdividing haciendas and distributing small lots to tenants or small farmers, shares of stocks are issued to beneficiaries through a stock distribution plan.

In a related development, the farmers also asked to stop agrarian-related crimes in the hinterlands and the agricultural liberalization, which according to research, refers to fewer government regulations and restrictions in the economy in exchange for greater participation of private entities.

Furthermore, they want the corruption cases in agriculture be investigated and also be assisted in rehabilitation and reconstruction of the families of the farmers who are affected by calamities.

On the other hand, the urban poor sector demanded to stop the land use conversion in areas where the poor Cebuanos are living and to give them housing. They are also asking for employment, education, health and other services.

The document also states that in the workers sector, they want the minimum wage increased from P267 to more than P800, prioritize Filipino workers to work in the country instead of going abroad and to give security to Overseas Filipino Workers.

They are also asking to stop the overpricing of oil, electricity, water and other basic public services.

In the women and youth sector, they believe that women can also do the jobs of men and can decide on their own. Adding to that, they want support systems for education such as day care centers and drop-in centers.

In response, Davide said that if he wins in the incoming elections, he will ask for an increase in the budget for agriculture, put up a tax-free provincial market for farmers, and give big funds for district hospitals to aid the lack of facilities and also to add more classrooms to schools by asking for help or sponsorship from private sectors.

“The people’s money should be returned to them by giving enough services,” Davide said.

Acedillo, on the other hand, said that he will propose for the making into law of the Comprehensive Cebu City Development Plan which will give formal settlement to people who do not have their own lot and house.

The remaining local candidates also presented their solutions to the problems of the marginalized sectors and their platforms of the government. — THE FREEMAN