Coco farmers vow to monitor gov’t trust fund

MANILA, Philippines - The 71 coconut farmers who marched from Davao to Manila as a symbol of their fight for the coconut levy fund yesterday vowed to monitor the government’s ful- fillment of its promise to create a coconut farmers’ trust fund through an executive order and to make it a law.

In a memorandum of agreement with coconut farmers, the Aquino government has promised to create a coconut farmers’ trust fund through an executive order to be issued by President Aquino and to make it a law.

The coconut farmers, led by Kilus Magniniyog (KM) 71 spokesperson Carol Pajaron, said they are going back to their hometown happy with the memorandum of agreement they signed after having a dialogue with President Aquino last week. “But we insist that the role of the coco- nut farmers will not end on mere consul- tation. We must actively monitor that the

promises will be realized,” Pajaron said. “The respect for the coconut farmers’ interest and rights is for the benefit of the coconut industry and for each Filipino. Aside from us, other Filipinos must also be vigilant and ensure that all the promis- es made will be fulfilled,” Pajaron added. He also expressed gratitude to the gov- ernment agencies that coordinated with KM 71 until President Aquino met with the farmers’ group, and to the people who

supported them.