Roxas rallies for support from Cebu workers

CEBU, Philippines - Department of the Interior and Local Government secretary Mar Roxas has appealed to Cebuano farmers to support him in 2016 as a way to continue President Benigno Aquino’s “Daang Matuwid” advocacy.

“Hinihingi ko po inyong tulong, with all humility, na magpapatuloy tayo sa ating sama-sama sa Daang Matuwid,” Roxas told hundreds of farmers who attended the first Farmers’ Day at the Capitol.

Roxas, who resigned as DILG secretary shortly after Aquino declared him officially as LP’s bet for president, said that while the current administration has achievements to boast of, there remains a lot to be done.

“Malayo na ang ating narating…mas malayo pa ang mararating natin… Patuloy tayo sa Daang Matuwid para tayo magtagumpay di lang sa agrikultura, but to build a better life for each one of you,” he said.

He recalled that in 1986, the land reform program was established under the term of the late president Corazon Aquino, which entitles farmers land ownership. However, 30 years after, the three-hectare farm given to a single family has been subdivided several times for the children of the farmer-father or mother, which leaves small parcels to each owner.

This means that with very small farmland, a smaller income goes to the family coffers, he said.

Roxas said the national government comes in by providing services like fertilizer assistance, education for the farmers’ children, among others.   

“We are obligated to give you any support that we can because you feed us and it’s a difficult job,” he said.

He said at least 100,000 classrooms have been built so that children, including those of farmers, will get an education.

“Baka sakali hindi n’yo mapasa sa kanila ang buhay na inyung naranasan ngayun,” Roxas said.

At the 62nd Philippine Sugar Technologists (Philsutech) annual convention, Roxas made the same plea.

“Because all of this has come about because all of us not just the sugar industry but all of us as people we came together in 2010 and elected an honest, decent, true man to be our leader. We attained this together. We have seen what good governance can bring to our country,” Roxas added.

“We have come a long way. But we have so much more to do. We have succeeded in so many things but we can succeed and we have to succeed in so many more,” Roxas said further. — (FREEMAN)