By Belinda M. Otordoz
GUMACA, Quezon Nov. 11 (PNA) — The 71 coconut marchers who took off on foot last Sept. 21 in Davao City reached this town shortly before noon Tuesday asking President Benigno S. Aquino III to issue an Executive Order that will create the Coconut Farmers Trust Fund that will manage the use of the P71-billion coco levy fund.
The coco levy fund has been given back to the coco farmers when the Supreme Court ruled, 11-0, in 2012 in favor of the coconut farmers.
Jeck Reyes-Cantos, chief of staff of National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Joel Rocamora, in the press briefing Tuesday morning, said data shows that the poorest among the poor came from the coconut industry sector because of inadequate support, including the opportunity to explore the potential of planting other crops in their land, for lack of knowledge and resources.
Former House Rep. Wigberto Tanada Jr. also called for the signing of the Executive Order already been drafted. He added that if this fund will be given back to the farmers, it could greatly help government development programs that are already lined up for the farmers’ benefit. Tanada and his son, Atty. Toby Tanada, joined the march from the town of Guinayangan to Atimonan, Quezon.
Rene Cerilla, of Kilos Magniniyog National Council of Leaders, also called for the signing of the Executive Order and the creation of the “coco levy trust fund council.”
The 71 coconut farmers, marching for 71 days from Davao City to Malacañang Palace in Manila, is also asking the immediate passage of the bill they filed last May in Congress – “A Proposed Act to Spur Rural Development in the Coconut Sector by Establishing a Coconut Farmers’ Trust Fund.”
The farmers’ 1,750-km trek began on September 21, 2014, the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, and is expected to reach Malacañang Palace on November 26.
The 71 farmers are composed of coconut farmers from Quezon, Palawan, Davao and as far as Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi.
A torch lighting ceremony was carried out after a mass Tuesday at the San Diego Church in this town. (PNA)