Rural industrialization is key to self-reliant economic development

Media Release | 08 July 2017

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines’ Reciprocal Working Committee on Social and Economic Reforms (NDFP RWC SER) said rural-based sectors are looking forward to the resumption of the formal peace negotiations that will discuss and firm-up unities on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development and fast-track discussions on other pertinent sections of the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms (CASER).

“The people’s strong clamor for the continuation of the formal peace talks is enough conducive environment for the GPH and NDFP to return to the negotiating table and discuss thoroughly concrete and doable reforms.”

“Genuine development and industrialization of vast rural areas is possible. If a genuine agrarian reform program, rural infrastructure and support services are in place, farmers can unleash their full productive capabilities.”

“Farmers have the experience and capacity to develop the countryside and create rural industries that will benefit millions. Free land distribution is the necessary first step towards this goal,” said NDFP consultant Randall Echanis who challenged the GPH to “walk the talk” on its declaration that free land distribution and support services to farmers are essential in achieving genuine agrarian reform. “If we are to discuss agrarian reform and rural development in upcoming meetings, the GPH should make concrete its recognition of free land distribution.”

The NFDP RWC-SER technical working group recently consulted farmers and peasant leaders nationwide regarding concrete proposals on rural development particularly in the enhancement of major crop lines and rural industries. The consultation was held in preparation for the forthcoming bilateral team meetings of the GPH and NDFP RWC-SER working groups to come up with a tentative CASER draft to accelerate the talks, with the target of completing the negotiations by the first quarter of 2018.

Based on the NDFP draft, industries pertaining to coconut, sugar, abaca, bamboo and rattan, clothing and textile, pottery, furniture and the processing of meat, dairy, spices, fish, fruits, vegetable and other agricultural by-products shall be developed. “These industries are essential mainly to ensure food production for local consumption and develop an agri-based economy.”

“In our discussion with farmers, they reiterated that particular crop lines and rural-based industries can be developed depending on the actual needs of the people and with the objective of establishing rural industries that will lay the ground for national industrialization. Raising agricultural productivity, and provision of agricultural research and development and support services to farmers were also proposed.”

“Correct policy framework is significant in order to reinvigorate rural areas. The sooner we resume with the negotiations, the sooner we can address the needs of the people and the ailing local economy,” Echanis said.

Gradual shift

During the consultation, farmers from the Ilocos region said they are willing to gradually shift from tobacco to other crops, particularly to food crops for domestic consumption like rice, corn, vegetables and others. “If there is irrigation in Ilocos, farmers can produce crops other than tobacco,” Echanis said.

“Since time immemorial, only foreign-owned tobacco companies have benefited from tobacco plantations in Ilocos and Cagayan Valley. Worse, corrupt officials in Ilocos Norte led by Governor Imee Marcos were found to have misused the fund of the Tobacco Excise Tax or RA 7171 that is intended for tobacco farmers and the tobacco industry, now considered as a sunset industry.”

“While we are at it, it is also preposterous for the GPH panel to continue rubbing in the never-ending issue of revolutionary tax at this point to parry CASER when one of their own is accused of plundering people’s tax money,” Echanis said referring to Gov. Marcos’ alleged excise tax corruption. ###

REFERENCE:
Randall “Ka Randy” Echanis
Member, NDFP Reciprocal Working Committee on Socio-Economic Reforms
Contact Number: 0949-1377260