SEVERAL ATENEAN volunteers accompanied the 71 Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng Samahang Magniniyog (KILUS Magniniyog) farmers to the Malacañang Palace on November 26, where the coconut farmers had a dialogue with President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III regarding the Perpetual Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund.

The trust fund aims to protect the recovered P71-billion coco levy fund, which came from shares in food and beverage company San Miguel Corporation (SMC). It was declared as a public fund by the Supreme Court (SC) on September 21, 2012.

According to a primer sent to The GUIDON by Ateneans for Agrarian Reform Movement (Afarm) Chair Ace Dela Cruz, the coconut farmers have yet to receive a single peso from the recovered money.

The coco levy were taxes collected from farmers during former President Ferdinand Marcos’ term that were invested in companies outside the coconut farming industry.

During the dialogue with the marchers, Aquino promised to issue an executive order (EO) that will allow for the utilization of P3 B worth of annual interest earnings from the coco levy fund.

Aquino also declared that he will certify as urgent a bill for the protection of the P71 B.

However, in an interview with The GUIDON, Dela Cruz said that the bill for the mobilization of funds cannot take effect unless the SC issues an entry of judgment.

Dela Cruz requested that Aquino speed up the legal process and that he should not “let these farmers wait again for a long time.”

“We’re not only talking here about the 71 farmers; we are talking about the 3.5 million farmers here who have yet to utilize the recovered P71 B due to an absence of a ourt-sanctioned entry of judgment,” he said.

On December 10, the SC issued a partial entry of judgment which allowed for the utilization of the P71 B.

In a statement released by KILUS Magniniyog on December 12, the farmers said they welcome the SC’s decision with positivity and that they are looking forward to the fulfillment of Aquino’s promise to issue an EO.

The farmers promised to actively participate in the discussions and hearings for legal amendments on the coco levy case.

The statement reads, “Hindi lang pribilehiyo ng iilan ang katarungan—karapatan natin itong lahat (Justice is not just a privilege for a few—it is a right for all of us).”

KILUS Magniniyog’s visit to the Palace is part of their 1,750-kilometer KM71 march, which started at Davao City on September 21, to lobby for the creation of the trust fund and to raise awareness on the coco levy issue.

Afarm Research and Advocacy Member Christabel Bucao said that that the march was a way for the coco farmers to bring themselves to justice in the best way they knew how.

“I think that the coconut farmers are doing all that they could… through active, nonviolent means such as the KM71 march,” said Bucao.

According to the Afarm primer, the coco levy fund scam is said to be “the largest legalized theft in contemporary Philippine history,” as it totaled to a collected levy of P9.7 B from 1973 to 1982.

The government required coconut farmers to pay a levy of P20 in 1974 for every 100 kilograms of copra on their first sale, until the levy increased to P76 in 1977.

Afarm is a student-led task force of rural development advocates from the Ateneo.

Remaining positive

After Aquino’s promise to certify a bill for the protection of the money as urgent, Dela Cruz said that Afarm is now more hopeful about the establishment of the Perpetual Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund.

“It might be just the first step, but at least now, we’re sure that [we’re] getting there. So long as our national government remains true to their words, we’re sure that our coconut farmers will finally get what they rightfully deserve,” said Dela Cruz.

In a statement released on December 1, Afarm acknowledged Aquino’s commitment to his promises.

Afarm said they remain cautiously optimistic, especially now that what were discussed and agreed upon between the farmers and Aquino coincided with Afarm’s manifesto on the issue.

The manifesto, which was released by Afarm and Buklod Atenista, calls for the establishment of the trust fund.

Buklod Atenista is an alliance of student governments from the Ateneo de Manila University, the Ateneo de Davao University, the Ateneo de Naga University, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

Afarm’s statement further reads that they are, however, wary that the EO that the president will craft and the bill he will certify as urgent may not be the same as the EO and bills that KILUS Magniniyog has filed through people’s initiative at the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In light of this, Afarm urges Aquino and the involved government agencies to consult with the farmers to ensure that whichever EO and bill are passed will be for the farmers’ benefit.

Atenean support

Afarm and Buklod Atenista organized the Laban Niyugan week from November 17 to 21 to raise awareness in the Ateneo community on the plight of the coco farmers.

Apart from lobbying for the Perpetual Coconut Farmer’s Trust Fund, the coco farmers are also struggling for the attention of the government towards their cause.

Adelmo Arandela, one of the farmers, said that the government has not paid enough attention in resolving the issue.

“Kulang na kulang [ang atensyon na binibigay ng gobyerno]. 2012 pa nahatulan ng Supreme Court ‘yong pera [pero]… kaming mga magsasaka sa niyugan ay naghihirap (The attention of the government is inadequate. It was still in 2012 when the Supreme Court gave a verdict regarding the money, yet we farmers are still in poverty),” said Arandela.

According to Afarm Buklod Atenista Ambassador Camille Leong, the current administration has the most unsatisfactory performance among the last three administrations when it comes to agrarian reform.

She also added that that the coco farmers are among the poorest farmers in the country, earning only P18,000 per capita per year.

In line with this, Dela Cruz said, “If the government’s agenda has always been for inclusive growth, they must make sure that all sectors are included, that no one is being left behind. [Aquino] has to make sure that before he steps down, our coconut farmers get what they deserve.”

During the week-long event, Ateneans were encouraged to join the Pledge P71 donation drive and to sign the petition for the establishment of the trust fund.

On November 18, a forum titled “Laban Niyugan: The Coco Levy Fund Scam and March for Historic Justice” tackled the historical and legal context of the struggle of the farmers on the coco levy issue.

Aside from these activities, Afarm also led the KM71 Salubong on November 21 to welcome the coco famers to the Ateneo. Students, administrators, faculty members and staff personnel from the Ateneo showed their support with chants of “Coco Farmers’ Trust Fund, itatag, itatag (Establish the Coco Farmers’ Trust Fund)!” The KM71 Salubong continued through a Solidarity Program at the Cervini Field, wherein students and faculty members reaffirmed the university’s position in supporting the advocacy of the coco farmers regarding the coco levy issue.

During the program, Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rene San Andres reassured the farmers that the school is open for the farmers.

The farmers left the Ateneo on the morning of November 21 to continue their march to the Malacañang Palace.

With reports from Ennah A. Tolentino