Farmers Holding Protest Rally Get 2,000 Bags Of Rice From DSWD, Agree To Go Home

Farmers on Monday agreed to disperse and return home after four days of holding a peaceful rally where they demanded rice subsidy from the government.

This, after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-12) turned over to rally organizers 2,000 bags of rice.

“We are terminating our protest rally today but farmers will stay overnight here and will go home tomorrow (Tuesday),” Joselito Roxas of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) told reporters in Filipino as farmers unload bags of rice from hauler trucks at about 4:30 p.m.

“We are happy with this even our demand for 15,000 bags was not granted, at least this initial aid will help us,” Roxas said, adding that each rally participant will bring home one sack of rice.

“We consider this as victory,” Roxas said following a dialogue with representatives from DSWD and Department of Agriculture and the South Cotabato provincial crisis management.

“DA also promised to extend us fertilizers and other farm inputs and will be distributed in the farmers’ communities in the coming days,” Roxas added.

“Pasalamat kami nga walay dispersal nga nahitabo (We are happy no dispersal took place),” he said.

“Each person who attended the rally will bring home one sack of rice,” Roxas said, explaining that a family with four participants will receive four sacks.

It was quiet at the rally site where protesters were resting at past 4 p.m. when three hauler trucks with DSWD markings arrived.

The farmers came close and were told the cargoes were for them. Police stationed nearby moved backward as DSWD personnel alighted from the truck and let the farmers unload the goods. (PNA) LAP/NYP/EOF