MBCCI traces underlying causes of CARP failure

I just took hold of a memorandum of the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry to Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman outlining some of the factors that led to the perception that CARP has failed miserably to uplift workers.

MBCCI president Robert Montelibano summed it up this way: "Almost 8,500 hectares have already been distributed to some 5,000 farmer-beneficiaries involving more than P8 billion of program funds. Yet up to now, (after) almost 15 years of implementation, we would be hard put identifying even one percent sustainable success anywhere in the province."

MBCCI also suggested a temporary suspension of the agrarian reform program to pave the way for an overall assessment of all its aspects.

Montelibano also enclosed a six-page strategy concept which incorporated three basic factors needed for any production enterprise to succeed. These are adequate equipment, operating capital, and management expertise.

After years of implementation and billions of pesos disbursed, all the program can show, the MBCCI pointed out, are reduced overall production, reduced government revenue, reduced overall earning of the beneficiaries, reduced and disappeared social benefit for the awardees, and insignificant collection from the beneficiaries.

Worse, according to the MBCCI memo, it resulted in the program’s failure and led to a general perception — " almost a culture" — that credit, especially government credit, need not to be attended to. It also created the perception that agriculture offers no future for the people, especially the children of the agrarian reform beneficiaries.

It blamed land reform in the sugar industry as a prime example of a grand and widespread failure simply because one of its basic elements is missing.

"Education underpins the success or failure of any endeavor," stressed the MBCCI memorandum.

It also blamed the following as glaring manifestations:

• Poor program design on agriculture — programs not meeting industry needs, not well researched, not catering to entrepreneurship training.

• Poor teaching and assessment of agriculture program — programs not outcome-focused, not competency-based, no adequate resources, lack or qualified trainers, no hands-on training for people who most need training, i.e. people in the farms.

• Lack of coordination among agencies delivering the agriculture and fisheries training. Many agencies (BFAR, ATI, TESDA, SEAFDEC) delivering training in agriculture and fisheries are not coordinated.

The MBCCI also recommended the temporary suspension of the land reform program to pave the way for an assessment of the overall situation vis-a-vis the purpose of the program — alleviation of the workers’ economic well-being — and to develop corrective measures that would address the aspect that contributed to the program’s failure.

Among the proposals are field education in situ, including the reconsolidation of farms into clusters of 500 to 1,000 hectares; re-equipping them with machinery tools, and infrastructure; providing beneficiaries with operating funds and supplying them with professional management or managers.

The MBCCI also recommended diversification in both crops and animals, as well as on-site field training for the different crops in a holistic manner, not only how to grow them but also what, how much and when.

These measures can resurrect bank collections with repayments eventually restoring land productivity. With the loans paid, the land can be truly owned by the ARBs.

But now, Montelibano pointed out, land is only one of the components of productivity where education is central.

The MBCCI wants to promote sustainable economic activity in the province with its willingness to share time, skills and effort in ensuring the success of the program.

For the moment, it pointed out that "continuing to implement the program in its present form, will only achieve even wider areas of failure — increase the number of disenchanted beneficiaries, lower productivity and lower government revenues."

Sugar technologist Gregorio Lopez, former Philsutech president and MBCCI trustee, penned the study.

Villahermoso’s anti-Red rally

For a long time, there hardly has been any communal denunciation of the communists by the grassroots. But last week, a thousand residents of Villahermoso town in Negros Oriental staged a peace and pro-democracy rally to denounce the alleged extortion, killings, and human rights violations by the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army.

Jade Oscar of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) based in Cebu was the guest speaker at the rally which went around the town and ended with a program at the municipal gymnasium.

The rallyists reportedly belong to the Alsa Masa movement from various barangays, the civilian military affairs office of the Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion reported.

"The people, especially those in the hinterlands, are demanding peace and unity and an end to the political killings. I am glad people are showing up to demonstrate their support for this cause," Oscar said.

A Lt. Posadas of the media affairs unit of the 11th IB said Army units in Negros are working closely with various organizations to wage a peace and democracy campaign in the region.

That Villahermoso affair may actually trigger similar mobilizations of other countryside folk to pursue their search for peace.

Villahermoso, Guihulngan and nearby towns were the sites of recent skirmishes between the military and the CPP-NPA as well as between NPA and the splitist RPA-ABB.

Perhaps, with the population finally conscious of the need to address the issue of continued killings, peace may be restored in these areas, especially in hinterland communities.

Rectification

I wish to rectify the report that Fr. Dimitri Gatia and Fr. Greg Patinio were absent from the rally at the Bacolod Plaza as reported in my March 11 column.

I received a stinging letter from Gatia on the issue, especially my having identified him and Fr. Patinio as left-leaning.

For one, I must clarify that my basis for reporting their absence from the rally was that the TV shot of the affair was a long shot and I failed to notice both. Left-leaning, however, is anchored on the generic term "left." This means both are identified as advocates of the social doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. I characterize myself as "left of center," meaning I am not satisfied with the status quo in terms of systems and principles.

But again I must confess that I should apologize for that "mistake."

Incidentally, one reason for Fr. Gatia to be angry at that mistake was that he was a former rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary of the Bacolod Diocese. I was years ahead of him, having been a member of the pioneer class of 1946. I am still actively involved in the seminary, having been elected vice chairman of the Sacred Heart Seminary Foundation.

Thus, there is a personal link which made the oversight more serious than normally would have been in the case of another mediaman.

Apologies, Fr. Gatia and Fr. Patinio.

SP delays action on BREDCO port

As I had previously reported, the business community of Bacolod has been stirred by the reported recommendation by the city government’s negotiating panel to take over the Bacolod City port from the Bacolod Realty Estate Development Corp. (BREDCO).

On Thursday, the Sangguniang Panglunsod did not act on the recommendation to take over the port pending an executive-legislative caucus with the Mayor Evelio Leonardia who is now in Mexico.

Eight voted in favor and four against the resolution for suspension of action pending the caucus with Mayor Leonardia.

Many of Bacolod’s business leaders issued calls for a win-win approach to the issue instead of the takeover of the port as recommended by the negotiating panel and the adjustment of the annual lease to P17.5 million.

Besides, Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Roberto Montelibano pointed out that it could send the wrong signal to the local business community and also discourage foreign investors.

The same view was expressed by James Chua of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. (FCCCI), who said the adjustment was 2,000 percent and questionable. Former councilor Rolando Villamor also batted for a "win-win" solution and asked that the city continue with the renegotiation talks.

Johnny Gregorio, former manager of the Bacolod Murcia Milling Company and a high official of the Araneta Company of Bacolod, proposed an arbitration committee to iron out a compromise formula that could be acceptable to both parties. He also suggested former Sugar Administrator Arsenio Yulo as a possible mediator.

Yulo, Gregorio reported, said he is willing to act as mediator provided that it is acceptable to both panels.

Former councilor Alfredo Jalbuena Jr. was quoted by the Visayan Daily Star as expressing hope that the Bacolod officials, including the SP members, continue to negotiate with BREDCO to find a win-win solution.

He also proposed that BREDCO adjust its P1.4-million offer to between P2 million and P3 million.

Jalbuena also wants the city government to leave it to the private sector to manage the port. He echoed the warning of the business community that putting it under government management could only worsen graft and corruption.

Other than that, there was also the ancillary controversy over the selection of Taculing as the site of the proposed government center that will replace the present City Hall. However, Mayor Leonardia has already said that he may hold on to the present City Hall with the executive offices retained there so that the city will not lose the property donated conditionally by the Luzurriaga family.

There were people opposed to the Taculing site. The most vocal was former vice mayor Monju Guanzon who has reportedly offered for free a sprawling property in Mansilingan.

Former councilor Rolando Villamor also pointed out that the area is already congested and could affect two major schools in the area. And he posed the question of an expansion and a built-up area.

In short, decisions on both issues are on hold for the time being.