53 labor and farmer groups with 500,000 members endorse Aquino-Roxas tandem

Labor unions and agrarian workers groups have endorsed the candidacies of Liberal Party standard-bearers Senators Benigno S. Aquino III and Mar Roxas, further boosting their chances of victory in the May 10 national and local elections.

The umbrella group Workers for Aquino-Roxas (WAR), which is composed of 6 labor unions affiliated with the Lakas Manggagawa Labor Center (LMLC), and 47 farmers’ groups and non-government organizations pledged support for the Aquino-Roxas tandem and promised to secure the votes of more workers and farmers groups for the two senators.

The LMLC is a 30,000-strong labor center that works closely with the Mabuting Pilipino, a non-partisan volunteers’ group also supporting the candidacies of Aquino and Roxas.

The farmers groups and agrarian reform advocates represent more than 300,000 farmers nationwide. Their endorsement came after farmer-beneficiaries of agrarian reform in the controversial Sumilao estate in Bukidnon province also threw their support for the Aquino-Roxas tandem.

The groups backed the Liberal Party candidates’ commitment to reforms and good governance and their promise to ensure the full implementation of the CARP extension with reforms (CARPer).

The LMLC unions include the Philippine Association of Free Labor Unions (PAFLU), Alliance of Filipino Workers (AFW), Union of Filipino Workers (UFW), Construction Workers Solidarity (CWS), Workers Welfare Watch-Philippines (WWW-PH), Ladies Garments Textile Workers Welfare Association (GATWEL) and the National Labor Union (NLU).

The group said they are supporting the Aquino-Roxas team because “we want change. Ang boto ng manggagawa ay boto para sa pagbabago (A worker’s vote is a vote for change).”

He expressed confidence that the LP standard-bearers would make true their campaign promises of good governance, reviving the economy and fighting corruption.

On the other hand, the farmers’ groups were represented by Gilda Echavez (Bangko sa Balay Foundation Inc.), Richard Rejas (Katilingbanon Pamahandi sa Mindanaw Foundation, Inc.), Charmaine Baconga (Kab-ot Gahum: Resource Center for Empowerment and Development), Ariel Hernandez (Anak Mindanao ),Charlito Z. Manlupig (Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. and Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs), Ubalda Roxas (SILMORE), Jose Z. Grageda (Consortium for Advancing People’s Participation through Sustainable Integrated Area Development), Ma. Luisa Aquilera (RepormAR-Tatalon), Lanie Factor (Task Force Mapalad).

It included Roy P. Mahinay (DAMMMBA), Danny Carranza (Katarungan), Rene Cerilla (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka), Ruperto Aleroza (Pambansang Kalipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan), Maning Rosario (Akbayan Peasant Caucus), Enrique F. Tayo (Negros Occidental Federation of Farmers’ Associations), Eva A. Almonicar (Kababaihan-Filipinas), Rosalina Ramos (Center for Agrarian Reform Empowerment and Transformation), Rolando Cruzada (KAMAHARI), Anthony Marzan (KAISAHAN tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan), Belinda Formanes (Partnership for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Services), Virginita Malaluan (PLSMMB), Nenette Aninao (SMMMT), Imelda Limseco-Lucio (PKKK), Luz Magallanes (KAMAO) and Amihan M Jonos (FFF).

It also included Imelda Varela-Villacin (Quidan Kaisahan Negros Occidental), Crispin A. Alvarado (LUPA-Leyte Union of Producers of Agri-products), Jose Villamor (Caloogan Farmers Association-Palo, Leyte), Noel Inot (Palo Farmers Society), Basilio Fornillos (Kabugtuan ha Leyte para han Agrkultural nga Sektor), Arcelli Eugenio (Ugnayan ng mga Nagsasariling Organisasyon sa Kanayunan-Filipinas), Eva Almonicar (Samahang Anak ng Magsasaka sa Masbate), Dr. Ted Mendoza (PEACE Foundation), Rolando Rabago (KASAMAKA-Toledo City Cebu), Essex Lara (Cagayan Valley Rural Empowerment and Development Organization), Carlito Dela Cruz (Timpuyog it Manalon Dagiti Isabela), June Domingo (San Pablo Farmers Association), Danilo Bernal (Quezon Association for Rural Development and Democratization Services), Maribel Luzara (Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bondoc Peninsula), Jojo Clavo (Ugnayan ng Magsasaka sa Gitnang Quezon), Rustom Suruiz (PARAOMA-Albay), Apolinario Sedorita (Hugpong sa Organisadong Katawhan sa Davao Oriental), Malou Cueto (Builders for Rural Empowerment and Human Rights Advocates Network), Nestor Tapia (Center for Rural Empowerment Services in Central Mindanao Inc.), Silando Gomez (Mag-uuma Nagkahiusa Alang sa Kalambuan), Glenda Descuatan (Negros Oriental Center for People’s Empowerment and Development), and Ernesto Lim Jr. (AR Now).

The farmers’ groups said they back Aquino’s and Roxas’ undertaking to fight for food security, with emphasis on stopping importation of corruption-tainted grains and to complete the distribution of agrarian lands to farmer-beneficiaries.

The Sumilao farmers said they are supporting the candidacies of Aquino and Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, who is running under the LP’s senatorial slate. Baraquel is one of the main proponents of the CARP extension with reforms (CARPER) law.