WHAT: Culmination rally of 300 farmers who joined the LAKBAYAN para sa repormang Agraryo, a four-day 100-km Lakbayan walk from Hermosa Bataan and other support groups.
The Lakbayan will culminate in front of the DAR on June 1, where they will be joined by 400 more farmers, rural women and support groups from the Save Agrarian Reform Alliance including Kaisahan Ng mga Maliliit na Magsasaka, KATARUNGAN, Katipunan ng Bagong Pilipina, Pambansang Kaisahan ng Magbubukid sa Pilipinas, Pambansang Katipunan ng Makabayang Magbubukid, Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan. On June 2, they will march to Malacanang to seek President Rodrigo Duterte’s commitment to install them and implement agrarian reform, effectively in the countryside.
WHERE: In front of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
WHEN: June 1, 2017 (Thursday)
Mass up @ NHA – 8:30 am
Start of March to DAR – 9:00 am
Brief Background:
The Lakbayan is an initiative led by the farmers to demand President Duterte and DAR Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano on its promise of CHANGE. Also to call out DAR on the sluggish implementation of agrarian reform in the 214 hectares of land in Barangay Sumalo and other land conflict cases that the government has failed to prioritize; (b) expedite the installation of farmers in their land and the extension of support services under the program; (c) demand accountability from Sec. Mariano.
The farmers are marching to reclaim their 214 hectares of land being claimed by River Forest Development Corporation, owned by the Litton family from Forbes Park. They are also clamoring for government’s intervention to stop the “martial law rule “, human rights violations and criminalization of farmers.
For more than three years now, their farming activities were effectively stopped by the fences and gates erected by the River Forest. This has affected their ability to earn a living and has stirred unrest and hunger in their community.
