President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to continue to implement land reform even after the collapse of peace talks with the communist rebels.
“With or without the talks between government and the communist, land reform will continue to be implemented. It will not end this way,” Duterte said as he led the distribution of the certificates of land ownership award to 1,680 agrarian reform beneficiaries in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat on Monday.
In his speech, the President assured the farmers that he would implement genuine land reform “through strong and decisive governance.”
Among the beneficiaries of the land certificates were former members or supporters of the communist party of the Philippines-New People’s Army.
The free distribution of land was among the issues tackled by the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines peace panels before the peace talks collapsed in November last year.
President Duterte congratulated the farmers saying that they “rightfully deserve” the lands “as hardworking Filipinos.”
“I stand before you to say only one thing: Today is a victorious day for you, our farmers,” he said.
“I laud the efforts of the Department of Agrarian Reform for being instrumental in upholding the rights of our farmers to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands as well as to improve their quality of life,” he added.
The President also encouraged the farmers to continue their duties of tilling the fields and bringing food on the table of every Filipino.
“The Philippines is nothing without our farmers who regularly provide our people with sustenance and ensure food security despite difficulties such as disasters, price fluctuations and financial shortages,” he said.
He called on the Department of Agriculture and other concerned agencies to continue their efforts to increase farm productivity, reduce farm expenses and promote the well-being of farmers, consumers and the general public through various programs.
“I assure you that the government stands [by] you every step of the way. We continue to provide support services [from] other agencies through livelihood programs such as crop insurance, production and postharvest trainings and credit access,” he said.
Duterte underscored that the programs and services provided for the farmers are the building blocks to achieve a comfortable and dignified life for everyone.
He urged the farmers to demonstrate solidarity in “the shared task of building a stronger and more robust society.”
The President, meanwhile, urged state-run Land Bank to make credit and loans more accessible to farmers.
“I am urging the LandBank to look for ways and means na makarating kayo doon sa farmers at anuhin mo man ’yang pera na ’yan, marami na ’yan [where you can reach the farmers and whatever you do with the money, that’s a lot],” he said.
Duterte described LandBank as “almost like a commercial bank” and urged them to release the funds to the farmers.
“’Yang pera na ’yan, bitawan na ninyo, give it to the farmers [That money, you should let go of it, give it to the farmers],” Duterte said.
Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza earlier said it would take “the presence of an enabling environment” to resume peace talks.
Duterte started formal peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines in 2016 but canceled them last year because of continued attacks of the New People’s Army on government forces.
He issued a proclamation classifying the CPP-NPA as a terrorist organization in December last year. With PNA
