SUMILAO, BUKIDNON—After their historic 1,700–kilometer walk from this town to Manila, the Sumilao farmers are back home.

Sumilao farmer Linda Ligmon hugged her family upon returning home, after 1,700–kilometer walk from Sumilao, Bukidnon to Manila. Ten years ago, Linda was one of the Sumilao farmers who staged a 28–day hunger strike. The Sumilao farmers staged the walk and hunger strike to reclaim their 144 hectares of land located in Sumilao.

“Miuli kami dinhi tungod kay ang sunod nga mga lakang sa among pakigbisog ania man dinhi (We are back home because the next steps in our struggle will take place here),” Samuel Merida, president of the Mapalad Multipurpose Cooperative, said.

“Sa mga musonod nga mga adlaw, among hagiton ang DAR [Department of Agrarian Reform] dinhi nga mag–issue na sa Notice of Coverage ug paspasan na nila ang mga mosunod nga mga lakang aron mapatunhay na ang gisaad sa Presidente nga ibalik na kanamo ang 144 hectares (In the next few days, we shall challenge the DAR here to immediately issue the Notice of Coverage and to speed up actions in order to put into concrete actions the promise of the President that the 144 hectares will be given back to us),” Mr. Merida added.

The Sumilao farmers started their historic walk “Walk for Sumilao Land, Walk for Justice” from Sumilao last October 10. After nearly two months of walking, the Sumilao farmers arrived in Manila, particularly at the Philippine Senate, last December 5.

The Sumilao farmers walked their way to Manila, with “blistered feet, burnt skin, and exhausted energy,” to reclaim their 144 hectares of land located in barangay San Vicente, Sumilao town.

Last December 18, President Gloria Macapagal–Arroyo positively responded to the plea of the Sumilao farmers by revoking the conversion order issued by then Secretary Ruben Torres over the 144–hectare land.

In a letter to President Arroyo, Malaybalay Bishop Honesto Pacana, S.J. said, “Much as the Diocese of Malaybalay and the Sumilao farmers would want to celebrate such a significant event, however, I am apprehensive about its tenor and implications. For one thing, said Order does not include an explicit cease–and–desist instruction for San Miguel Foods, Inc. to stop further activities in the area. The unabated construction of buildings makes the Order practically useless, to say the least.”

Bishop Pacana added, “... since the land had been returned to its former agricultural status, there appears to be no legal obstacle should the Office of the President or DAR immediately issue a Notice of Coverage without waiting for the order to become final and executory. The issuance of the Notice of Coverage will certainly give substance to what the poor Sumilao farmers have been longing for: the reclamation of their land.”

The 144–hectare land in barangay San Vicente, Sumilao town has been the subject of dispute for many years. Norberto Quisumbing, Sr. Management and Development Corporation (NQSRMDC) claimed the land. In 1984, Quisumbing leased the property to Del Monte Philippines, then Philippine Packing Corp., The lease expired in 1994.

In October 1995, the subject property was awarded, under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, to the seasonal farm workers of the Quisumbing property, collectively called Mapadayonong Panaghiusa sa mga Lumad alang Damlag or Mapalad.

But after the Quisumbing property was awarded to the Mapalad farmers, on March 29, 1996, ownership of the land reverted to Quisumbing after former Executive Secretary Ruben Torres approved the conversion of the subject 144–hectare property from agricultural to agro–industrial. Under the development plan of Quisumbing, of the 144 hectares, 24 hectares of the subject agricultural property would be turned into a Development Academy of Mindanao; 67 hectares for Bukidnon Agro–Industrial Park; 33 hectares for Forest Development; and 20 hectares for support services.

Nineteen Mapalad farmers, in 1997, staged a 28-day hunger strike as an extreme peaceful appeal to former President Fidel Ramos to reverse the decision of former Executive Secretary Torres converting the 144–hectare land of Quisumbing from agricultural to agro–industrial. For staging a non–violent form of protest in 1997, the Mapalad farmers, composed of then 78 members, won the Dona Aurora Aragon–Quezon Peace Award.

On November 7, 1997, former President Ramos issued a “win–win” resolution awarding 100 hectares to the farmers and 44 hectares for conversion in favor of Quisumbing. The Supreme Court, however, ruled with finality declaring void and of no binding effect the “win–win” resolution of former President Ramos; thereby affirming with finality the decision of Executive Secretary Torres converting the whole 144–hectare property into agro–industrial in favor of Quisumbing.

San Miguel Foods, Inc. bought the disputed property on February 2, 2002. Based on the company's comprehensive land use plan submitted to the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the subject parcel of land will be utilized as a piggery.

In an interview with Sumilao mayor Mary Ann Baula, she said the entry of San Miguel Foods in her town will be a big boost to the municipality of Sumilao—elevating it from its present position of being the poorest municipality in Bukidnon. She added that with San Miguel Foods, the town's income will increase and this can provide much needed employment to the residents in Sumilao.

For his part, then Mapalad chairman Peter Tuminhay said the entry of San Miguel Foods will not alleviate the economic conditions of the ordinary residents in San Vicente. Mr. Tuminhay said the disputed property should be awarded to the farmers and landless residents in San Vicente. He said the economic benefits of tilling the land far outweigh the benefits of being employed in a piggery. In the first place, he said, only a few will be employed by the company.

In 2004, Mapalad farmers, together with 90 landless residents in San Vicente, filed a case before DAR calling for San Miguel Foods to cease and desist from undertaking any development at the disputed property.

The Mapalad farmers and landless residents in San Vicente alleged that Quisumbing failed to develop the area within the 5–year maximum period, and also failed to submit request for extension to develop within six months before the expiration of the 5–year period—all to be reckoned from the time of finality of the order of former Secretary Torres which was on August 25, 1999. They also alleged that the plan of San Miguel Foods—in turning the subject property into a piggery—is contrary to the original plan of Quisumbing for which the application for conversion was granted.

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