MANILA, Philippines – As the country awaits the last State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Benigno S. Aquino III set next week, the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (Union of Agricultural Workers or UMA) held its own “state of farmworkers report” in a public forum dubbed as “State of (Hacienda) Luisita” held last 20 July at the University of the Philippines (UP).

Hacienda Luisita is a 6,453-hectare sugar-estate controlled by the family of Pres. Aquino with a long history of agrarian and labor unrest. The farmer’s struggle for their rightful claim to the vast estate resulted in a Supreme Court ruling in April 2012 where it affirmed in a final and executory ruling for its total land distribution. However, the ruling has yet to be genuinely implemented, according to UMA.

(Photo credit: UMA)

Farm workers under the Aquino administration experienced nothing but “deceit, violence and land grabbing”, UMA said. Apart from the Philippine government’s constant refusal of their right to land, human rights violations continue to beleaguer community leaders and supporters.

In 2013-2014 alone, ten (10) villages were under militarization and 18 community leaders and supporters suffered illegal arrest and detention. Other violations include frustrated killings, destruction of crops and properties and detention of a minor among others.

On 16 November 2004, seven were killed and 121 were injured (including 11 children) when elements of the military and police opened fire at the protesting farm workers and their supporters seeking the turnover of the Hacienda Luisita from the President’s family to them. In the weeks that followed, eight more supporters were killed extrajudicially by suspected state elements. (Read more on the Hacienda Luisita massacre)

More challenges confront the farmers and farm workers in Hacienda Luisita such as further threats of displacement and eviction including from the US$88-million Solar Power Public-Power-Partnership (PPP) project that will cover 500 hectares of disputed lands. The deal is now in place between the Department of Energy and PetroGreen. According to UMA, PetroGreen PGEC is under the majority ownership of the Yuchengco Group of Companies who are known business partners of the Aquino family.

UMA Pilipinas is the national progressive center of unions, federations, and organizations of agricultural workers in the Philippines. ###

Photo credit: UMA