Representatives from the Office of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo and the DSWD-Field Office III assured members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) that the Department will provide assistance to starving farmers and their families whose livelihood are being affected by reaper-harvester operations in Guimba, Nueva Ecija, during an inter-agency dialogue held yesterday at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office.

“Matindi ang gutom na nararanasan namin. Nawalan kami ng hanap buhay dahil sa mga makinarya na nilagay nila doon (We are starving. We lost our livelihood because of the machineries that the landlords placed in the fields),” said Alberto Vinluan, National Chairperson of the Liga ng Manggagawang Bukid.

The peasant farmers appealed to hold a dialogue with Sec. Taguiwalo to ask for rice subsidy and other assistance.

DSWD Director III on Special Concerns Maristela Abenojar from the Office of the Secretary (OSEC) vowed that the Department will see to it that the dialogue will be scheduled once Sec. Taguiwalo returns from her trip to Batanes with President Rodrigo R. Duterte where they checked on the condition of Typhoon ‘Ferdie’ survivors.

Meanwhile, Sec. Taguiwalo expressed her sentiments on the problems experienced by the farmers.

“Masakit isipin na kung sino pa ang nagpapakain sa atin ay sila pa ang nakakaranas ng matinding gutom. Kailangan mabigyan ng maagap na serbisyo ang ating mga kababayang magsasaka lalo na ang mga pamilyang apektado ng tagtuyot, bagyo at maling pamamalakad ng mga nagmamay-ari ng mga lupa (It is hard to believe that those who are feeding us are the ones who are starving. We need to immediately address the needs of our farmers especially those affected by drought, typhoons and unfair farming practices by landlords),” said Sec. Taguiwalo.

She also said that the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) in all DSWD-Field Offices are ready to provide immediate education, burial, transportation and medical assistance to the farmers and their families. ###