Urban Poor leader joins the cry for justice and food for farmers

Malungon, Sarangani - “Enough with cover-ups and justice must be served,” said by Rufino “Jun” Gonzaga, Jr an urban poor leader and organizer based in Iligan City when asked on the violent dispersal against the drought-hit farmers that staged a protest in front of the National Food Authority office in Kidapawan City by the provincial police forces last April 1, 2016. The said protest for food and relief assistance have blocked the Cotabato to Davao City hi-way with an estimated 6,000 farmers and indigenous peoples. The dispersal resulted to three deaths from the protesters and more injuries between camps.

“This is a sad situation for our food producers in the country and the whole world. We have an economic and political system putting agriculture and environment behind profit,” added by Mr Gonzaga.

Mr Gonzaga also asked, “What took it so long for the provincial government to act? Three days have passed and instead of talking to the protesters and have negotiations for possible compromises and or agreements, armed uniformed men were sent with the dispersing units?”

North Cotabato have been declared under the state of calamity by the provincial government by January 2016 and El Nino’s impact have been told by experts and even government agencies and there must be no reason of not being ready.

“As a member of the urban poor community that have been also suffering from high prices of food and the cost of living, the struggle of our farmers is also our struggle. Basic equation is we all eat rice for example and without food the farmers themselves how they could produce foods for the whole society? The shortage of supply will certainly result to increase of prices. It will hurt all of us consuming public. And this is a political matter, we have to work together. My organization, Alliance of Rural and Urban Poor (AKLAS) will launch several solidarity actions to help in the cry for justice beyond food,” Mr Gonzaga continued.

Rufino "Jun" Gonzaga, Jr (in red) with MindanaOne National Chair Johnny Balindong (in white), Datu Leo Ingay of Tagakaulo tribe (in yellow) and Renante Parium (in blue) in one of the stops of MindanaOne campaign for Partido Manggagawa Partylist in Sarangani province.

“The protest have exposed the neglect the to our farmers and our rural communities by the government and have exposed how untrue is the inclusive development that the past and current administrations are boasting. It is only when our development policies and programs made human rights and environment as central then our people and communities can feel real development. Let us give justice to the farmers in North Cotabato and the whole country,” he ended.

Mr Gonzaga is an urban poor leader in Iligan City and a multi-sector organization leader in Lanao del Norte and is the second nominee of Partido Manggagawa Partylist aspiring for congressional seat this May 9, 2016 elections. Joined by MindanaOne volunteers, Jun Gonzaga is in a campaign route around mainland Mindanao this week meeting grassroots organizations and groups.

Partido Manggagawa Partylist have been consistent since its foundation to the cause for the workers and the oppressed pushing Regular Jobs, Quality Public Service, High Wages and Benefits and Low Prices of Commodities. (MindanaOne. 8 April 2016)