The banana industry reiterated its call to dolve insurgency
problem which is driving investors away.
"Why are government agencies so focused on issues like
aerial spraying and land rental when the bigger problem is peace and order,
which is driving the investors away," said Pilipino Banana Growers and
Exporters Association (PBGEA) Executive Director Stephen Antig.
Antig lamented that the issue on aerial spraying has been
resolved several years back.
The government should pay more attention to the insurgency
problem because "it is driving the present and prospective investors away
from Mindanao ," he noted.
Dole-Stanfilco, a multi-national banana firm operating in
Tagbina, Surigao del Sur has shut down its operations indefinitely after it has
been subjected to a series of attacks by the rebel group New People’s Army
(NPA) for refusing to pay revolutionary taxes.
The NPA has burned 19 container trucks in total and has cost
the company PHP20 million in losses since 2010.
Just last week, the rebels have escalated their assault by
blowing up the company’s truck with bombs.
"The closure of plantations will lead to unemployment
and then to poverty," said Antig.
Earlier reports stated that the closure of the Surigao
plantation has severely affected over 1,500 employees on its 400-hectare
plantation. The displaced workers are condemning the violence as they asked
what would happen to their families now that they have lost their jobs.
"Where now are their (NPAs) claims that they are
soldiers of the masses that will look after our welfare? We are here not to
fight with arms but to condemn the extortion activities of the NPAs which cost
our livelihood," said Concepcion Jumao-as, a farm worker lamented.
Jumao-as said company officials have feared the NPA’s use of
powerful explosives that burned the two trucks carrying the container vans was
the main reason for the company decision to close down its operations.
"Before, they use gasoline in torching the trucks but
lately they already use bombs," she said.
Increased attacks
Farmers, mainly agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) who are
now contract growers for banana and pineapple exporters, have reported
increased attacks by the NPA on farms, facilities and equipment.
Eduardo Maningo, a spokesman for the ARBs, in a statement
disclosed that about a dozen burnings were carried out by the NPA from late
January to February this year, almost the same as the total for the whole of
2015.
The attacks, some of which were not reported to the
authorities, were in T’boli and Surallah in South Cotabato; Barobo and Lianga
in Surigao del Sur; Quezon, Bukidnon; Maco, Compostela Valley
The attacks on plantations and companies are part of the
rebels’ extortion activities.
"There will be a domino effect on the economy of the
locality unless peace and order is established," Antig said.
"This will create a vicious cycle, thus, should be
given priority," he added.
President Rodrigo Duterte, in his State of the Nation
Address last month, declared a unilateral ceasefire but has revoked it days
after the NPAs failed to issue a reciprocal ceasefire.
On July 27, the rebels ambushed the military in Davao del
Norte killing one Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) member and
wounding four others.
The government forces were returning to camp after hearing
about the President’s declaration of unilateral truce when they were waylaid by
the NPAs.
"I went out of my way just to express to you our need
for peace. For as long as there is war here, there will be poverty… You thought
our government cannot do it, try me," the President warned.
President Duterte stressed he declared the truce in good
faith hoping that the rebels will reciprocate and forge the way to peace
negotiations.
"Many days ago, the response of the communists is like
a defensive position. Not stand-down. I was expecting that they would also
reciprocate my imploring for peace through the ceasefire on their side. Now, I
cannot understand if they are really... for peace or they are trying to
embarrass me," he said.
The President warned the NPAs to stop the use of landmines
in attacking government military forces, or else the peace talks with the left
movement is cancelled.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=913580
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