Tobacco farmers back Montemayor for DAR chief

NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur – A tobacco farmers’ cooperatives’ federation has joined the clamor for the appointment of former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor to head the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

In an endorsement letter to President Arroyo, the Philippine Association of Tobacco-Based Cooperatives (PATCO) cited Montemayor’s "continuing concern for the welfare of the farmers (and) his very approachable nature" which had reportedly made the group feel at home with the government.

The group led by Carlos Cachola, PATCO president, expressed confidence on Montemayor’s capabilities to head DAR claiming the former agriculture chief has the farmers’ interests at heast starting since his boyhood.

Montemayor was head of the nationwide Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) which was founded by his late father Dean Jeremias Montemayor.

PATCO which is the umbrella group of some 500,000 tobacco farmers nationwide was preceded by the DAR’s employees’ union who endorsed him to the DAR portfolio last Thursday.

Violeta Bonilla, DAR union president, said their nominee’s ties with farmers’ groups "make him qualified for the job" adding that Montemayor is worthy for the position.

Bonilla’s group had a running feud with outgoing DAR secretary Hernani Braganza which had affected the operations in the strife-torn agency. – Teddy Molina