The National Federation of Peasant Women (Amihan) today joined the protest at the House of Representatives in Batasan Hills, Quezon City led by Anakpawis Partylist against charter change being pushed by House members.
“Sa muling pagbubukas ng sesyon ng Kongreso, nais naming ipaalala sa ating mga mambabatas na ang pangunahing tungkulin nila ay lumikha ng mga polisiya na tunay na magsusulong at maglilingkod sa kapakanan ng mga mahihirap pangunahin ng mga magsasaka, mangingisda, manggagawa sa agrikultura at kababaihan sa kanayunan,” Amihan national chairperson Zenaida Soriano said.
“The proposed amendments of the constitution will only worsen the impoverished conditions of the rural-based sectors as easing restrictions on foreign investments will likely result to more landgrabbing, land use conversion and crop conversion, thus displacement of farmers and fisherfolks from their sources of livelihood,” Soriano added.
The unnumbered Resolution of Both Houses was approved by the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments in a closed-door meeting last December 11.
“Liberalization of the agriculture sector has already done so much damage not only in the livelihood of farmers and fisherfolks but to the country’s food security. We do not want another man-made catastrophe ruining our lives and livelihood,” Soriano said.
“Ang pangunahing kailangan sa ngayon ng mga kababayan natin ay ang sinserong pagtugon ng gobyerno sa mga suliranin sa agrikultura – Ibasura ang RA11203 Rice Liberalization Law, pagsasabatas ng HB 239 o Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill at HB 477 o Rice Industry Developmnet Act na tutugon sa mga kronikong problema sa lokal na industriya ng bigas at seguridad sa pagkain, paglalaan ng sapat na suportang serbisyo at subsidyo sa mga magsasaka, pagpapatupad ng libreng serbisyo sa irigasyon at pagpapatupad ng komprehensibong programa kung paano makakaangkop ang sektor ng agrikultura sa climate change,” the peasant leader said. ###
