By Joann Santiago
MANILA, Nov 25 (PNA) — President Benigno Aquino III and members of his cabinet will meet with the members of the Kilusan para sa Ugnayan ng mga Samahang Magniniyog (Kilos Magniniyog) in Malacanang Wednesday.
“Handang pakingggan ng Pangulo ang mga usapin na ihaharap ng mga magsasaka at tukuyin ang mga programang isinasagawa ng pamahalaan para sa kapakanan nila,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a briefing Tuesday.
The coconut farmers held a rally at Mendiola Monday after walking from Davao City starting last September 21.
They urged the government to put up a Php 71-billion trust fund for coconut farmers.
Asked on the issue of coco levy fund, Coloma said there remains to have legal issues about this.
He noted that even if the Supreme Court (SC) already decided on this issue in November 2012, it has yet to issue an entry of judgment .
The High Court has decided in November 2012 that 24 percent of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is owned by coconut farmers because these shares were bought using coco levy, or taxes collected from coconut farmers during the Marcos government.
Some Php 70 billion of the coco levy fund is now with the National Treasury.
”Kaya’t kailangang maresolba iyang usapin na iyan at humahanap naman ng paraan ang pamahalaan kung paano matutukoy ang mga kahilingan o mga pangangailangan ng ating mga magsasaka na habang hindi pa nakakamit iyang tinatawag na entry of judgment,” Coloma added. (PNA)