Groups Hold Hunger Summit for Peasant Rights

By Juliane Judilla

The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) – Panay chapter led the 2024 Hunger Summit on Oct. 21 at the Social Action Hall, Girl Scouts Bldg., La Paz, Iloilo City.

Along with Paghugpong sang mga Mangunguma sa Panay kag Guimaras (PAMANGGAS), Jaro Archdiocesan Social Action Center (JASAC), Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR) – Panay and Guimaras, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) – Panay, and various socio-civic and youth-led organizations, the summit highlighted the growing inaccessibility of farmers to agricultural lands, resulting in food insecurity in the country.

The event was part of the commemoration of Peasant Month and the 52nd anniversary of Presidential Decree 27, which promised genuine agrarian reform.

Lucia Capaducio of PAMANGGAS expressed that more than 50 years since PD 27’s proclamation, 9 out of 10 farmers in the country still do not own the land they till. Capaducio also called on the government to push for genuine agrarian reform and provide sufficient production subsidies for farmers.

Melbert Balbon of the fisherfolk group PAMALAKAYA – Panay emphasized that fisherfolk in coastal communities receive insufficient government aid, especially during calamities or state-imposed fishing bans.

Balbon condemned the ongoing military operations in coastal communities in Northern Iloilo, saying, “Instead of subsidies, the government’s response is militarization.”

“This is alarming because it causes fear, especially for fishermen demanding proper assistance. That is why we demand the scrapping of the fisheries law, subsidies during calamities and fishing bans, and the removal of the military from fishing communities,” Balbon added.

Francisca Erfe of the Iloilo Terminal Market Vendors Association (ITMVA) shared the current struggles of ambulant vendors in Iloilo City after being displaced for a “rehabilitated” market in partnership with the city government and SM Prime Holdings Inc.

“The market belongs to the people, not the government, and most importantly, not to any businesses,” Erfe said.

She added that as long as there are people in the city who have lost their livelihoods, they will continue to fight for their space.

The summit was followed by a protest march in front of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.