2 days ago
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GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – A group of farmers in Central Luzon gathered in a peaceful assembly here last week to air their grievances and call the attention of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over the steep drop of palay prices in Central Luzon.
During the peak season, the farmers said, traders bought palay from farmers for as low as P15 to P14 per kilogram and, in some places, it even dropped to P11 to P12 per kilogram.
As early as 6 a.m. on March 22, farmers started to arrive at the rally venue but the police prevented them from entering the vicinity, said former Agriculture secretary Leonardo Montemayor who arrived early at the venue.
" I have arrive early at dawn and witnessed the dismantling of a rental modified stage. Electricity intended for the stage proper program was also cut off," said Montemayor, who is one of the invited guest speakers in the event.
The first nominee of the Magsasaka Party-list said 45,000 farmers from Central Luzon were expected to attend the gathering.
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However, Guimba town chief of police Maj. George Caluad told newsmen here that the organizer's request for a permit to rally was not approved by Mayor Jesulito Galapon due to security reason.
The rally, however, pushed through with only 2,000 farmers in attendance as other farmers were told by authorities to go back home and the rally was called off.
Galapon, in a statement posted on his official Facebook page, said the protesters were never dispersed despite the disapproval of their request to rally. The police facilitated the peaceful conduct of their gathering, ensuring that traffic remained unimpeded and that the event did not pose risks to anyone."
"Kaming mga magsasaka ay hindi mang-gugulo. Hindi kami terorista (We farmers are not looking for trouble. We are not terrorists)," said farmer leader Argel Cabatbat who also expressed his disapproval to the Rice Tarrification Law.
"Baon na baon na po sa utang ang magsasaka, nananawagan po kami sa gobyerno na sana bigyang pansin upang kami ay makapamuhay nang marangal (The farmers are buried in debt, that is why we are calling on the government to help us so we can have a decent livelihood)."
Cabatbat also refuted the claim of the Department of Agriculture that palay prices are stable nationwide. He said palay prices are manipulated by some unscrupulous traders who force farmers to sell palay for as low as P11 to P12 per kilogram.
