Coco farmers start 71-day march to Palace

At least 71 coconut farmers are now marching toward Malacañang from Davao, in a bid to ask President Benigno Aquino III to enact a law channeling some P71 billion in sequestered coconut levy for a trust fund for coconut farmers.

Kilus Maniniyog campaign coordinator Soc Banzuela said this seeks to benefit some 3.5 million coconut farmers, Davao Today reported.

The 71-day march, which has the support of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines officials, started last Sunday at San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City.

Banzuela said many coconut farmers are mired in debts and risks after they were affected by Typhoon Pablo in Southern Mindanao in 2012. Pablo damaged coconut crops that amounted to P33 billion.

“It’s been four years and we must go back to his promise. We hope he would listen to his boss,” Banzuela said.

The coconut levy fund was collected from coconut farmers from 1973 to 1982.

Kilus Maniniyog claimed government has not acted on how to use the sequestered funds and voiced fears some officials may dip their hands into the P71-billion fund.

Banzuela said one of their proposals is to develop an integrated coconut hub and integrated processing facilities in barangays. — Joel Locsin /LBG, GMA News