Ex-solon denies SMC landgrab in Isabela

A former Isabela congressman denied yesterday that food and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. is engaged in large-scale landgrabbing in his district.

In a statement, Rodolfo Albano III said San Miguel has entered into a legitimate joint venture with thousands of Isabela farmers.

He said under the project, the farmers will grow cassava which SMC will purchase and then sell or process into finished food products.

"San Miguel will not take over the lands of our constituents," said the former solon. His district is now represented by his father, Rodolfo Sr.

The younger Albano said the business project that SMC has entered into with Isabela farmers is similar to contract growing arrangements the company has with thousands of growers of fruits, hogs and chickens.

He said his constituents have formed the Valley Planters Development Cooperative for the joint venture with San Miguel.

Earlier, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, a left-leaning group of farmers, accused SMC of alleged landgrabbing.

The group said San Miguel has taken over the lands of Isabela and Quirino farmers on which the company intends to plant cassava. The project covers the 11 towns in Quirino and will involve more than 150,000 hectares of land, it said.

Albano said those claiming that landgrabbing is going on his in province "are not from Isabela and do not know what is happening in our place."

"They are bigots and misguided elements," he said. – Jess Diaz, Benjie Villa