Arroyo’s junket could have supported 8.9 million peasant households

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) lambasted President Arroyo’s excessive travels abroad and claimed that it could have been used to support hundreds of thousands of peasant families of the country. The group believed that Arroyo’s frequent travels abroad are connected to her offer the selling of lands to foreign countries and agro-corporation. Moreover, the Commission on Audit reported that the cost of her travel from 2002 to 2007 has exceeded P2 billion and 2007 figures disclosed P693 million, P392.8 million higher that the P300.2 million budgeted, while allocated for 2008 and 2009 was set to P408.6 million and P436 million, respectively.

“Mrs. Arroyo’s malversation of public funds through her junket is a very serious crime against the people. These hard-worked funds are being lavishly spent by Arroyo and her cohort lawmakers in Congress abroad while the whole country is facing a worsening crisis. It should have been used to support the people, particularly the peasants who are already landless and impoverished,” opened Danilo Ramos, KMP Secretary-General.

“A small but livable ‘bahay-kubo’ sized 8 by 8 ft. costs about P20,000, while a ‘kalakian’ carabao costs about P25,000 and a complete hand-tractor costs about P180,000. Added, they cost P225,000. Thus, Arroyo’s P2 billion travel expenses could have helped 8.9 million peasant households,” computed Ramos.

“Arroyo’s travel expenses alone could have made a difference to the peasantry, but she wasted it all on foreign and local trips. Worse, her trips abroad are all about selling the country’s rich lands to foreign countries and agro-corporation which would surely displace peasants nationwide,” Ramos added.

The group also criticized the Arroyo government for pushing the lifting of the ban to 100% foreign ownership of land throught Charter Change (Chacha). The Arroyo government is allocating 3 million hectares to foreign agro-corporations, where 1 million has. are reserved for the partnership of Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco to Kuok Group of Malaysia, based in Hongkong, 1 million hectares to Fuhua Co., a hybrid rice corporation of China, 400,000 has. to ADGZAR also from China, another 400,000 has. for Bio-Enery NL a Japanese firm based in the United Kingdom. The group believed that Arroyo’s recent trips to Japan, South Korea, Brazil, U.S., Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, U.A.E, Syria, Russia and other countries significantly deal about the selling of the country’s lands.

“The Arroyo government is doing the exact opposite of what the Filipino peasants clamor for. The peasants are struggling for Genuine Land Reform, to own the lands they till and develop, the Arroyo government is selling about a tenth of our country’s lands to foreigners. Peasants also face eternal poverty brought about by the economic crisis, thus, needing much support, Arroyo and her gang are abroad enjoying like newly-weds spending public money. The irony is real, and this irony pushes the peasantry to struggle resolutely,” Ramos said.

“Today, we are joining the broad anti-Chacha rally led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, all over the city of Manila. We are ceaseless in campaigning against Chacha and the ouster of Gloria Arroyo. She has much blood debt to the Filipino peasants and we couldn’t wait the moment she’s out in power so that she could answer for her crimes against the peasantry,” the peasant leader shared.

“We should all unite to disrupt Arroyo’s dictatorship and for justice to democracy to be realized in the country. All patriotic forces should act now as Arroyo is already selling our country to foreigners. We do not want our children and grandchildren to be slaves in our own country,” Ramos declared. #