1. FARMERS DECRY THE FAILURE OF THE AQUINO’s FOOD
SUFFICIENCY PROGRAM
October 16, 2012
Iloilo City, Philippines – On the occasion of the United
Nations World Food Day, farmers here in Panay
denounce the food sufficiency program of the
administration as inutile without the implementation
of genuine agrarian reform in the country.
Dubbed by farmers as the World Foodless Day, the
farmers’ alliance PAMANGGAS leads the mobilization
of more than 200 farmers and their supporters from
other sectors.
“It is ironic that despite the fact that we are the major
producers of rice, the country’s staple food, majority
of us farmers are experiencing food shortage and
hunger,” announced Jessica Emperwa, PAMANGGAS
spokesperson. “The hunger that we are experiencing
is even more aggravated by various policies and
Photo by: Pamanggas
programs of the Aquino administration.”
“The deployment of the regional mobile group of the PNP in the stock farm of the Bureau of
Animal Industry (BAI) at Brgy. Bungsuan, Dumarao, Capiz threatens the lives and
livelihood of the farmers in the communities within the BAI stock farm. Their call for the
distribution of the remaining 120 hectares is just and their right.” The farmers believe that
the deployment is not about the development of an external campus of CAPSU but rather
oppression to the call of the people to claim the remaining hectares of agricultural land.
“What we need is food on our tables and not bullets from the administration’s forces,”
Emperwa added.
PAMANGGAS also denounced the construction of the Jalaur mega-dam in Calinog. “The
multi-billion project is not an answer to the generation of irrigation systems in the
province. What the government should do is rehabilitate and improve the existing river
irrigation systems that are way cheaper and allocate sufficient funds for the development
of farming system of the farmers.” The group also asserted that those who will only benefit
from the irrigation are those having vast lands in the person of big landlords. “Without
proper implementation of genuine land reform, the free distribution of lands, farmers will
continue to suffer from poverty and hunger and rice-sufficiency will remain a dream,” said
Cris Chavez, the group’s secretary-general.
Days before the activity, a recent survey on 2012 Global Hunger Index (GHI) released by
the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) put the Philippines in serious state

2. of hunger with a score of 12.2. The survey found that policies such as “land grabbing” and
exploitive production are the threats to sustainable food security. The country fell 4 places
to 31st coming from 27th place with hunger incidence of 11.5 in 2011.
The farmers called for the junking of CARP-ER law that allows the re-concentration of lands
to big landlords. “The realization of farmers’ aspirations solely relies on the unity of our
ranks and the mobilization of thousands of farmers towards social justice and democracy,”
the group concluded.
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