SUMILAO LAND CASE RESOLVED

The Sumilao land case is finally headed for a just resolution with the signing at noon today (March 29, 2008) of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by all concerned parties. The signing ceremony was held at the San Carlos Seminary Complex in Guadalupe (Makati City) with the Archbishop of Manila Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales as witness. After the signing ceremony, the parties paid a courtesy call on President Arroyo in Malacañang to present her a copy of the settlement agreement and to thank her for her support. The MOA spells out the implementing guidelines for the Basic Agreement entered into by all parties on March 3, 2008 that defined the parameters of the settlement. The quiet backroom negotiations that led to the settlement were initiated by Cardinal Rosales and participated in by top-level representatives of the Catholic Church, San Miguel Corporation, and the government. The talks lasted nearly three months from January to March 2008.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Ramon S. Ang and Francisco Alejo for San Miguel Corporation and san Miguel Foods inc. (SMFI); Antonio media for the NQSRMD; Samuel Merida, Larry Carejo, Mercy Serona and Napoleon Merida, Jr. for Sumilao farmers; and Sec. Nasser Pangandaman of the DAR and Sec. Conrado Limcaoco of the Office of the President for Government.  His Eminence Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales and Bishop Broderick Pabillo were among those who signed as witnesses.  Our witnesses to the MOA are Atty. Christian Monsod Sumilao Farmers’ consultant, Sumilao legal counsel Atty. Wilfredo Peñaflor.

SMC and its CEO Mr. Ramon Ang, consistent with their belief in corporate social responsibility, in the spirit of peaceful co-existence, and responding positively to an appeal by Cardinal Rosales agreed to release to qualify farmers by deed of donation 50 hectares within the original property of 144 hectares.  Further, SMC will acquire 94 additional hectares outside of the original 144 hectares property for the farmers to complete the 144 hectares claimed.  The farmers are presently identifying their preferred parcels of land outside the original property from a list given them by SMC.

The farmers have agreed to accept this formula of 50 hectares inside the original property and 94 hectares outside.  The Deed of Donation giving the 50 hectares to the farmers was also signed by SMFI today.  The farmers will get a total of 144 hectares which is equivalent in size to the original property they seek.  The farmers have organized a new cooperative made up of initial qualified beneficiaries which will be the owner of these lands. Other qualified beneficiaries from MAPALAD and SALFA will be included in the succeeding processes.  This will finally vindicate their years of sacrifice and relentless efforts.

President Arroyo has ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to expedite the process of determining qualified farmer beneficiaries and pledged the support of all other agencies of government.  DAR has conducted the technical survey delineating the 50 hectares to be given the farmers and is also determining which parcels of land within the vicinity of the original property can be acquired by SMC for distribution to the farmers.  DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman has vowed to personally attend to this.  President Arroyo also offered the use of Air Force C-130 planes to transport the farmers back to Mindanao where thanksgiving Masses are scheduled on this site.  The farmers are expected to occupy the initial 50 hectares within the SMFI property in a few days.

The dropping of all pending cases by all is part of the agreement.

All protagonists have won.  SMC will be able to continue with their project and has also clearly demonstrated that it is a corporation with social responsibility.  The farmers will get the land they sacrificed and worked for through many years with a promise of a better life for their families.  Government has demonstrated its commitment to land reform and social justice, and that it is a government that cares for the poor and is committed to fight poverty.  The Church, led by His Eminence Cardinal Rosales played its role as a Church of the poor and peacemaker on earth.  Much can be done if we work together. ###

29 March 2008