Gov’t land distribution empowers 26,000 farmers in CL

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga­­-More than 26,000 landless farmers in Central Luzon received their land titles under the “Handog Titulo” program of the government as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) intensifies its land distribution effort this year.

 

Maximo Dichoso, DENR Regional Executive Director, confirmed that a total of 5,392 land titles covering 1,947 hectares of public lands were given away to marginalized farmers in the region this year.

 

Of these, a total of 2,694 land titles covering 1,763 hectares of public lands were distributed under the regular land distribution program of the DENR, and another 1,139 titles covering 84 hectares under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

 

“Only when farmers are assured of land security are they motivated to develop their lands. The first step, therefore, to achieving agricultural and countryside development is by providing our farmers with land titles,” he explained.

 

Tirso Parian, deputy DENR director for land management, reported that another 1,559 land titles were also distributed to farmers under Republic Act 10023, or the New Residential Free Patent Act (RFPA). 

 

Qualified Filipino citizens who are actual occupants of a residential land for at least 10 years are given free patent titles under the RFPA.

 

DENR records showed that the government land distribution program benefited a total of 77,245 landless farmers in Central Luzon since 1999.

 

As this developed, the DENR completed 21 cadastral survey projects covering 332, 616 hectares in Bataan, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija and Zambales.

 

Cadastral survey projects involved surveying extensive tracts of previously unsurveyed or incompletely surveyed lands in towns, cities, and provinces to expedite land registration and promote land valuation and taxation efforts of local governments.

 

To facilitate land administration and management, the DENR entered into a memorandum of partnership agreement (Mopa) with nine local government units (LGU) in four provinces in Central Luzon under the LGU-led land titling program of the DENR.

 

Parian said the towns of Llanera, Carranglan, Laur, Gen. Tinio, and Penaranda in Nueva Ecija; San Marcelino and Olongapo City in Zambales;Minalin in Pampanga; and Mayantoc in Tarlac already committed to partner with the DENR in expediting land titling activities in these areas.

 

Under the LGU-led land-titling program of the DENR, municipal assessors shall be deputized as Public Land Investigators to assist the DENR in land distribution efforts.

 

The partnership agreements are expected to improve the LGU’s tax collection efforts, increase land-based market activities, provide clean titles and greater access to credit facilities, and reduce land conflict cases and boundary disputes. (DENR-RPAO 3)

Senate Labor Committee to push passage of administration’s priority measures

MANILA-Labor Committee Chairman Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada expressed commitment today to readily act on and push for the passage of the priority measures of the administration as identified by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

 

During the organizational meeting of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, the DOLE named the Apprenticeship Bill, Bill Strengthening the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and the proposed Magna Carta for Seafarers as their top three priority measures for the 16^th Congress.

 

Senate Bill 136 (proposed Act Reforming the National Apprenticeship Program and Providing Standards for the Training and Employment of Apprentices) and Senate Bill 21 (An Act Instituting Magna Carta for Seafarers) also form part of Sen. Estrada’s priority measures filed last July.

 

Labor Undersecretary Rebecca Chato also acknowledged Sen. Estrada’s leadership as Chairman of the Labor Committee for the “productive partnership” between the DOLE and the Senate, and for the “impressive accomplishment” and passage of essential labor laws during the previous 15^th Congress, including the Batas Kasambahay, Tripartism Act, lifting the nightwork prohibition, and the law strengthening mandatory conciliation and mediation as labor dispute mechanisms.

 

USec. Chato hopes to double the output of this inter-branch cooperation, as he presented to the committee a total of 12 legislative measures concerning employment, rights at work and social dialogue for the Congress’ consideration.

 

Apart from the three, the DOLE is pushing for the enactment of the following legislation for the current Congress:

·         Amending Labor Code Provisions on Alien Employment Permit

·         Establishing Productivity and Performance Incentives and Gainsharing Program

·         Strengthening Labor Law Compliance System

·         Strengthening Compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Standards

·         Institutionalizing Occupational Safety and Health Standards in the Construction Industry

·         Strengthening Workers’ Right to Self-Organization

·         Defining the Power of Assumption or Certification of Labor Disputes by the Secretary of Labor and Employment to Undertakings which Involve Essential Services

·         Strengthening Voluntary Arbitration as a Preferential Mode of Labor Dispute Settlement

·         Providing for the Appeal of the Decisions of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC)

 

Sen. Estrada also urged the DOLE to coordinate and seek the support of the House of Representatives through the Chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Employment Davao City 1^st District Cong. Karlo Nograles to ensure immediate approval of the said bills.

Senators formally give up 2013 PDAF; pass resolution urging PNoy to augment calamity fund

MANILA-In an effort to help victims of calamity-stricken areas, the Senate has decided to abandon the remaining Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allotted to senators for 2013.

On Tuesday, the Senate passed a resolution which urges the President to use the savings which will be created by the senators’ abandonment of their PDAF allocation to augment the calamity fund in order for the government to respond effectively to the needs of the victims of various calamities that hit the country recently.

“We adopted Senate Resolution No. 14 wherein the senators have waived and abandoned their PDAF for 2013. With that abandonment of their PDAF entitlement, it has created savings which the President may use as calamity fund for areas affected by the typhoons ‘Labuyo’ and ‘Santi,’ by the earthquake in Visayas, and the man-made disaster in Zamboanga,” stressed Drilon, primary author of said resolution.

“We urged the President to use these savings to support ongoing recovery activities for victims of these disasters,” he added.

“We have to respond and assist the government in disaster relief, speedy post-disaster recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of provinces affected by these recent calamities that hit our country,” said Drilon.   

“These disasters have brought pain and suffering to our people, disrupted the functioning communities, caused mass casualties, damaged cultural heritage, and caused widespread human, material, economic and environmental losses,” the Senate Chief added.

Drilon said the realignment of the PDAF is authorized under the Constitution, specifically Section 25 (5) of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

The President may, by law, be authorized to augment any item in the General Appropriations Act from savings in any other items in the executive department, he noted.

He likewise cited Section 52 of the 2013 GAA authorizing the President to use savings to augment actual deficiencies incurred for the current year in any item of his appropriation.

The Office of the President declared that only P1.37 billion of the P7.5 billion calamity fund remains, it added.

According the Department of Budget and Management website, the unreleased PDAF for senators for 2013 amounts to P3.18 billion. 

AFP Deploys Aircraft, Ships to Bohol for Relief Operations Ground Assistance Continues

CAMP GENERAL EMILIO AGUINALDO, Quezon City –The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) deployed two C-130 aircraft and three naval logistic ships to transport a total of 285,000-lbs relief goods to Tagbilaran, Bohol in aid of the evacuees affected by the recent earthquake.

Two C-130 aircraft from the Philippine Air Force departed Villamor Air Base in Pasay yesterday to transport 48,000 lbs of assorted relief goods from Philippine National Red Cross and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Tagbilaran, Bohol. Its Sokol choppers are also on standby for further distribution of relief goods to said area.

Yesterday, the Naval Forces Central also deployed its logistic ship AT295 and two navy vessels to Tagbilaran, Bohol to transport 237,000 lbs of relief goods from Department of Health, Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, and ABS-CBN foundation for evacuees in Tagbilaran City.

Meanwhile, the AFP’s Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operation on the ground continues to support the Philippine National Police, DSWD, and the local government of Bohol.

The Headquarters, Central Command in Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu is still on Red Alert status for HADR operations, and ongoing supervising/monitoring of HADR operations in Bohol. The Headquarters, Special Forces Battalion has completed the hauling of 1,000 packs of relief goods in Danao, Bohol in coordination with DSWD yesterday.

Moreover, the 2^nd Special Forces Battalion, Philippine Army and the 53rd Engineering Brigade continue to assist in the distribution of relief goods in the municipality of Sagbayan and Tubigon respectively, in coordination with the PNP and LGU of Bohol.

AFP Deploys Troops for Barangay Polls in NCR

Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City—A total of 861 soldiers will be deployed to support the Philippine National Police in securing barangay elections in the National Capital Region (NCR) on October 28.

Each Major Service will provide 67 soldiers to be placed under operational control of the Joint Task Force-NCR to augment 165 soldiers already in its command. The deployment will take effect on October 21-30, 2013.

The JTF-NCR will commit its units for security augmentation in election-related tasks given that the PNP, through the NCR Police Office, will primarily carry-out the operation.

Election-related tasks will include manning of checkpoints; visibility patrols; establishment of Joint Security Assistance Desks; security of 743 voting centers; and security of vital installations.

AFP units will also undergo pre-deployment lectures pertaining to legal procedures in the conduct of said election-related tasks.

The AFP will maintain vigilance and continue its close coordination with the PNP in carrying out election security operations to ensure that the Filipino people could peacefully and safely practice their right to suffrage.

“What about Santi?”

MANILA-We would like to remind the national government to also address the devastation caused by Santi.

As of October 16, according to the NDRRMC itself, the only assistance coming from the central government was the P6.6 million worth of relief goods from the DSWD.

I am sure, however, that more help has been sent since.  

For the record, Santi affected 900,421 persons in 800 barangays in 78 municipalities and 9 cities in 14 provinces.

It damaged 59,001 houses, 10,837 of which were beyond repair.

By government’s count, Santi left behind P3.2 billion worth of damages : P114.4 million in infrastructure  and  P3.17 billion in agriculture.

While government is correct to focus its attention in Central Visayas, it must also look up, to Central Luzon, where government help is also badly needed.

It must be able to multitask, to respond to calls for help coming from many fronts.  It must be an equal opportunity provider of comfort and succor.

If it was able to embed Cabinet secretaries in Bohol and Cebu, it must entrench them too in Nueva Ecija, Zambales and Bulacan where they can direct operations on the ground.

This move, plus the delivery of aid, and the promise of rehabilitation funds, will signal to Santi victims that they haven’t been forgotten and that help is on the way.

It is not late to reassure them that help is on the way. 

Bam Aquino to keynote opening of 15th Likha ng Central Luzon

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga-Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV will keynote the opening program of the 15^th Likha ng Central Luzon (LCL) which is slated from October 23-27 at Megatrade Hall 2 of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

 

 

“Evolving and Expanding, this event will highlight fresh ideas and premium products of more than 160 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) coming from Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, and Zambales, each one supporting their provincial brand that ensures only best quality products,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Regional Director Judith Angeles disclosed.

 

 

The five-day bazaar shall sell regionally produced Christmas decors, processed foods, home furnishings, ceramics, jewelry, fashion accessories, bags, footwear, and other novelty products.

 

 

It will likewise feature engineered bamboo products and others that used indigenous raw materials and environment-friendly technologies.

 

“LCL is also the culmination of SME Development activities for the participants as they apply all that they have learned from capability enhancement trainings and seminars conducted by DTI and all that they have done to improve their product,” Angeles added.

 

 

DTI 3 and Philexport 3 jointly organize the event with the full support of the Regional Development Council 3, Philippine Information Agency and Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc. 

DILG cites LGPMS champs in Central Luzon

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) recently cited local government units in Central Luzon that garnered the top scores in the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS).

 

 

They are Tarlac (provincial category), Angeles (highly-urbanized city category), Cabanatuan (component city category), and San Luis, Aurora (municipal category).

 

 

“LGPMS is an online self-assessment management and development tool that enables provincial, city and municipal governments to determine their capabilities and limitations in the delivery of basic services,” DILG Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Division chief Lerrie Hernandez explained.

 

 

Administrative Governance covers local legislation; development planning; revenue generation; resource allocation and utilization; customer service-civil application; and human resource management and development while Social Governance encompasses health services; support to education services; support to housing and basic utilities; and peace, security and disaster risk management.

 

 

“Economic governance consists of support to agriculture sector; support to fishery services; and entrepreneurship, business and industry promotion and Environmental Governance is composed of forest ecosystem management, freshwater ecosystem management, coast marine ecosystem management, and urban ecosystem management,” Hernandez added.

 

 

Moreover, Valuing Fundamentals of Good Governance involves participation, transparency, and financial accountability. (Joelyn G. Baluyut)

Drilon: Jail those who misused PDAF

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said today that those who are proven to have misused the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) must be prosecuted with the full force of the law regardless of their rank and position in government.

“This issue of corruption in the use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) has already been politicized. But my appeal is that let us just concentrate on the policy of prosecution and orderly administration of justice,” said Drilon.

“We must all work towards prosecution of those who are found involved in the misuse of PDAF. If there is evidence enough to convict an accused lawmaker, be it a congressman or a senator, let’s jail him. Likewise, those innocent should be acquitted,” the Senate Chief stressed.

“There is a functioning justice system that will clear the innocent and punish the guilty. We will never shield corrupt officials from being punished,” pointed out Drilon.

“We have enough laws in the land to penalize erring and corrupt government officials and we guarantee that we will implement the law,” he added. 

He said the priority now is to prosecute those involved and ensure that those who misused public funds will be held accountable for their actions.

“This Senate investigation will be relentless in searching for the truth. I consider the Pork Barrel Scam as a great injustice to the Filipino people,” Drilon said earlier.

“Ensuring that justice is upheld will always be the priority of this administration and that is the reason why we are now working towards holding accountable those who have taken advantage of the loopholes in the system,” he added.

“We will guarantee that the truth will come out and that those who will be found guilty beyond reasonable doubt will be punished, jailed, and impeached,” said Drilon.

On the subpoena for Napoles, Drilon said he will sign it immediately when the Blue Ribbon Committee submits the copy of the subpoena for his signature.

The Senate Chief clarified that even if the subpoena is directly issued to Napoles, the Philippine National Police, who has physical custody of Napoles, would still have to secure the persmission of the court as the PNP is holding Napoles not on its own, but by virtue of the order of the court.

Drilon seeks to amend BSP charter, bats for P200-B capitalization

MANILA-Senate President Franklin M. Drilon has filed Senate Bill No. 1865 which seeks to enable the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to effectively respond to the challenges and innovations of a globalized economy by increasing its capitalization to P200 billion, among others. 

 “We have to support BSP in its constitutional mandate of ensuring a competitive, robust and inclusive economy. This additional capitalization and other amendments to the current charter will enhance its capability to perform its roles in protecting the savings of depositors, ensuring the smooth flow of transactions in the financial market, and enhancing the corporate viability of the BSP,” said Drilon.

Drilon pointed out that an empowered BSP fosters a financial system that delivers a high quality of life for Filipinos.

“There is, undoubtedly, a need to respond to contemporary challenges by amending the BSP charter in order that it remains effective in providing policy directions in the areas of money, banking and credit as well as in supervising entities within the financial system,” the Senate chief added.

The capitalization being proposed, he noted, is four times higher than the P50 million provided in the current BSP charter. The P150 million in additional capitalization shall be paid by the government in three consecutive annual installments.

“The amendments will focus mainly on areas that would enhance BSP’s capability in fulfilling its primary objective of maintaining price stability conducive to a balanced and sustainable growth of the economy,” said Drilon.

“Aside from the additional capital build-up, the proposed new charter will expand the BSP’s regulatory function to include credit card companies, money changers, e-money issuers, remittance agents, payments and settlement system operators,” noted Drilon.

“The Bangko Sentral shall oversee the payments and settlements system in the Philippines in accordance with sound and prudent practice,” according to the bill.

“The Bangko Sentral shall also have the power to obtain information for supervisory purposes on transactions between a supervised institution and a parent or other affiliate companies, and the authority to look into the main activities of companies affiliated with the parent companies that have a material impact on the safety and soundness of the bank and the banking group,” the bill added.

The bill further seeks to strengthen the BSP’s monetary stability function by restoring its authority to issue negotiable certificates of indebtedness even during normal times, a power granted to the old Central Bank of the Philippines, but was not included in the current BSP charter.

The bill also aims at strengthening BSP’s financial stability function by enhancing BSP’s supervisory authority and providing legal protection for BSP officials when performing official duties.

Lastly, the bill proposed to exempt the BSP from all types of taxes. 

Legarda Reiterates Need to Ensure Integrity of Structures to Withstand Earthquakes

MANILA-In light of the recent magnitude 7.2 earthquake in the Visayas area, Senator Loren Legarda today reiterated her call for the immediate evaluation of the structural integrity of critical structures in the country.

According to a report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the earthquake that was greatly felt in Bohol and Cebu has caused the death of at least 156 people, affected more than three million citizens, and damaged structures including 2,000 houses, 20 bridges, four roads, and several heritage churches, hospitals, public buildings and private establishments.

“We cannot predict when an earthquake will occur, therefore, we must always be prepared. The best protection against earthquakes is sound engineering practice. With this earthquake that damaged many structures particularly in Bohol and Cebu, it is a must that we immediately revisit our construction standards, codes and practices.  We must examine them now and correct any deficiencies,” said Legarda, the UN Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation for Asia-Pacific.

The Senator said that the evaluation and retrofitting of infrastructure in the country, especially hospitals, schools and bridges, must be done regularly to ensure that they can withstand strong earthquakes.

“We must ensure the safety of our schools and hospitals. We were fortunate enough that the earthquake happened on a holiday, otherwise, many children would have been in their schools. Meanwhile, there were hospitals that suffered major damage due to the temblor,” Legarda said. 

She noted that a guidebook on the promotion of disaster mitigation, which was published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), revealed that the cost of disaster-proofing a hospital or health facility by incorporating comprehensive disaster protection from earthquake and extreme climatic events into designs from the beginning will only add 4% to the cost of construction.

“This cost is nothing compared to the risk of destruction and death of patients and staff during a disaster, and the equally high health, economic and development impacts in the aftermath,” Legarda explained.

“School and hospital authorities must act now. They must consult structural engineers and assess the vulnerability of school and hospital structures to strong earthquakes, and institute immediate measures to strengthen parts found weak and likely to collapse. We should likewise ensure that our homes and offices, shopping malls and public buildings, and heritage sites are able to withstand strong earthquakes. We must ensure proper and safe construction. This lesson we must accept: Prevention is cost-effective,” she concluded.

Transform PDAF into ‘Priority Disaster Assistance Fund’

MANILA-It is perhaps time to thaw the frozen pork and use it to help victims of the Visayas earthquake, Typhoon Santi and the siege of Zamboanga.  

Withheld PDAF can be converted into a Priority Disaster Assistance Fund.

To effect the release, the Senate can issue a resolution authorizing the executive branch to utilize the unreleased portion of the senators’ share from the Priority Development Assistance Fund for 2013 for the rehabilitation of areas hit by the three calamities.

I will leave it up to the lawyers in the chamber to perfect the legal language which would free the PDAF from judicial impoundment and at the same time allow executive agencies and local governments to use it to provide comfort and succor to those affected by the said calamities.

My point is that from the senators’ funds from PDAF alone, there is a substantial amount that can be tapped for disaster relief.

Ibig sabihin, meron perang nakatiwangwang para ‘itabang’ sa mga biktima ng kalamidad. Pork barrel can be pounded into new classrooms and roads.

The greater tragedy is to hold it in continuous embargo when it can be used to help farmers replant their fields, arson victims to rebuild their homes, and the intrepid Bol-anons and Cebuanos rebuild their towns.

If the old PDAF will be resurrected as Priority Disaster Assistance Fund, senators must have no say on how, where and when it shall be spent, except to remind agencies to disburse it according to procurement and auditing rules.

Above all, it must be spent fast, as the need for assistance is urgent, but in a manner that is transparent. In short, the process can be sped up without circumventing the rules.  

Personally, I believe that local governments are in the best position to spend relief funds and orchestrate rehabilitation work as they are familiar with the damage and the local resources that can be mobilized to repair them. 

Cojuangco-Aquinos’ power, corruption and lies continue in Hacienda Luisita, farmers said

Tarlac City-Coinciding the anniversary of Marcos’ land reform program Presidential Decree 27 on October 21, farmers belonging to the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luson (Amgl, Farmers’ Alliance in Central Luzon) and Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) condemned the machinations of the Aquino government and the Cojuangco-Aquino family in Hacienda Luisita.  The groups said that the Aquino is utilizing the Dept. of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with “Reforms” to compel the farm worker beneficiaries to pay amortization for the land, consequently benefiting the Cojuangco-Aquinos.

“They used up public funds to acquire Hacienda Luisita, they rake up immeasurable profits from the sweat and blood of the sugar workers, their self-serving stock distribution option scheme was exposed and trashed, now they want to suck up from the farm workers in the form of amortization of the land,” Joseph Canlas said, Amgl chairperson.

Amgl affirmed that the Cojuangco family used public funds from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and Manufacturers Trust of New York which was guaranteed by the Central Bank, to acquire the 6,453-hectare sugar plantation in 1957 through their influence to then president Ramon Magsaysay.  Thus, their claim of ownership is groundless.  The groups said that the Cojuangcos were able to generate huge profits from sugar production while farm workers live in poverty and hunger.

“Since the Magsaysay administration, the Cojuangcos were only able to protect their interests by clinging on those who were on power.  Even during the Marcos dictatorship, Hacienda Luisita was untouched and during the Arroyo government, the Cojuangco-Aquinos were able to secure an ‘assumption of jurisdiction” from labor secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas,” Canlas said.

The groups said that even the Arroyo government revoked the stock distribution option (sdo) scheme in 2005, military forces were deployed in the hacienda during the implementation of the counter-insurgency program Oplan Bantay Laya.

“The Cojuangco-Aquinos would not be able to keep control of Hacienda Luisita if they did not traded political favors.  They take advantage of the failure of the Marcos dictatorship and were able to rise to power,” Canlas added.

Amgl said that the Cojuangco-Aquinos were able to temporarily salvage their interest in the hacienda with the Aquino presidency.  But the favorable decision of the Supreme Court for the farm workers were uncontestable triumph brought about by the intensifying farm workers struggle for genuine land reform.

“Amidst having a member of the family being the president, the Supreme Court junked the sdo and ordered the distribution of the lands.  To subvert the decision, Aquino is using DAR to guarantee the Cojuangco-Aquinos’ interests,” Canlas said.

On the first week of October, DAR distributed certificate of land ownership awards (cloa) to about 2,400 farm worker beneficiaries from barangays Pando, Motrico, Lourdes and Parang.  DAR officials boast as if cloa distribution is already land reform itself.

“The farm workers who applied for these cloas are now in grave danger as they are legally liable in case of non-payment of amortization.  The Cojuangco-Aquinos are now rejoicing thinking they are successful in deceiving the farm workers,” Canlas said.

While DAR is launching its mass deception activities, the Cojuangco-owner Tarlac Dev’t Corp. (Tadeco) is grabbing lands in many barangays in Hacienda Luisita.  Tadeco fenced around 200 hectares in brgy. Balete and 100 hectares in brgy. Cutcut, which is guarded by elements of the military and private security guards.  Farm workers have questioned the land grabbing to DAR officials but denied knowledge.

“These so-called public officials from DAR who smiled heavily during their photo ops at the cloa distribution, are now claiming they knew nothing of what Tadeco did.  Worse, they are doing absolutely nothing to question Tadeco and the Cojuangco-Aquinos.  These DAR officials are clearly minions of president Aquino to safeguard his family’s interests,” Canlas said.

“Our society is really at the stone age from being national democratic.  We have a government who protects the interests of the rich few and keeps the majority of the people in deep poverty and misery.  The only path to fundamental reforms is our struggle for national democracy.  We call on the people of Central Luzon to support the struggle of Hacienda Luisita farm workers as it is long overdue to concretely realize genuine land reform, for our whole society to develop,” Canlas said.