19 November 2014
Contact persons:
Mildred Ople – 0935.187.1689
Mardi Mapa-Suplido – 0917.860.9250
KOMPRe (Koalisyon ng Mamamayan para sa Reporma) expresses it support for the coconut farmers in their struggle to attain a just settlement to the Coco Levy issue. It calls on President Aquino to listen to the proposal put forth by the coconut farmers to address an issue of injustice perpetrated by the dictator Marcos at the height of martial law.
The Coco Levy, for so many years was a tax imposed by the then President Ferdinand Marcos on the coconut farmers. It was a scam to deceive the coconut farmers. Ostensibly set up to provide support for the farmers, the fund was instead converted into a well of ill gotten wealth that was used by his cronies for their personal interests.
As such, it conned the farmers of their legitimate income and left them without the needed support to enable them to prosper as they were denied access to its use. The Coco Levy is blatantly unjust and inhuman because it was built on the sweat and toil of the coconut farmers and because it exploited the coconut farmers and robbed them of their legitimate income while propping up a cabal of cronies without regard for the farmers welfare.
The decision of the Supreme Court which identified an initial sum of Php 71 billion in the Coco Levy as properly belonging to the coconut farmers is a recognition of the injustice perpetrated on them by the Marcos regime. It presents an opportunity for the farmers to reclaim the fund and re-channel it to its original intent.
The proposal of the Kilus Magniniyog for government to create a Coconut Farmers Trust Fund will provide the needed support for farmers to further develop their farms by enhancement of their knowledge.
The stated intent of the Kilus Magniniyog to create systems for research and development will further add value to their produce other than the traditional production of crops. These can only maximize the value of coconuts as it explores the myriad uses of this important agricultural resource. We support the intention of the farmers in the use of the Fund and believe that it will improve the lot of our coconut farmers and lift them from the grip of inhuman existence and poverty.
We believe that Tuwid na Daan must not only weed out corruption. It must also correct a monumental injustice perpetrated in the dark years of Martial Law. -end-
We believe that Tuwid na Daan must not only weed out corruption. It must also correct a monumental injustice perpetrated in the dark years of Martial Law. -end-
