This developed after the administration of Mayor Ernesto Evangelista through Municipal Administrator lawyer Elisa Evangelista-Lapiña negotiated with the management of NEH Philippines Inc. to help the landowners.
In a statement released on Monday (April 11), Evangelista-Lapiña said the parcel of land covers 62 properties that were leased to the management of NEH Philippines Inc.
“Sukad nag mando si Mayor Tatay Erning na tabangan nato ang mga landowners sa Pantaron, gibuhat nato ang tanang pamaagi para ma-liberate sila sa ilang sitwasyon. Og nalipay kita kay nakuha na og balik sa mga landowner ang ilang yuta human pila sila katuig nag-antos sa ilang kahimtang. Dako pud atong pasalamat sa NEH Philippines Inc. kay naminaw sila ug nasabtan nila ang sitwasyon ug nasolbar ang dugay na kaayo na problema sa sakto ug malinawon na pamaagi,” she said.
Evangelista-Lapiña said that the concurrent administration sat down with NEH Philippines Inc. in a series of meetings after members of the Pantaron Landowners Association sought their help to address the issue of labor, and land disputes faced by the landowners.
“Isip Municipal Administrator, atong gipaminaw ang side sa Pantaron Landowners Association, ang side sa mga Entreps, ang side sa mga plantation workers. Nilingkod pud kita with the management of NEH Philippines Inc. kay para mahibal-an nato ang mga isyu ug mahatagan kini og paspas na solusyon,” she said.
She said the Evangelista administration is serious to end the “glaring economic inequality” prevailing in various banana plantations where Tomasino landowners and plantation workers have suffered from cheap wages, poor working conditions, non-payment of social benefits, and above all, non-compliant to labor laws.
“This is the start of ending those labor malpractices. Ang uban sige ra og panghambog na dato ang Santo Tomas tungod sa saging. Ang mga consolidator ra man ang nahimong dato ug nakapahimulos sa sistema. Look at the social economic status.. kanang mga nagatrabaho sa planta, kanang mga naa diha sa sagingan. Unsa man ang kahimtang nila? Kini tungod sa walay balaud naga regulate sa industriya sa saging ug walay balaud nagahatag og proteksyon ug benepisyo sa mga yanong mga trabahante,” she said.
The municipal official said that the Sangguniang Bayan especially the Committee on Agriculture and Food failed to pass a landmark ordinance that would solve the pressing issues faced by the banana growers.
“Dugay nata nangayo og legislation ana pero asa naman? Why there is no concrete legislative action? Because ba kamo pud kay mga players pud mo sa industriya sa saging ug amigo ninyo ang usa ka consilidator dinhi sa Santo Tomas? Abi ba nako ug una ang interes sa katawhan?,” she said.
She also expressed dismay at the failure of incumbent 2nd District Davao del Norte Congressman Alan Dujali to pass a substantive bill that would help the sector of the banana growers in Santo Tomas.
“Naa pud unta ta Congressman pero wala pud nabuhat na concrete action para matagad ang mga mulo sa katawhan sa Santo Tomas. Puro raman lip service. Wala may paspas na aksyon gibuhat bisag paglegislate lang man aron makahatag og financial subsidy man lang sa mga apektadong mag-uuma sa Santo Tomas,” Evangelista said.
The Committee on Agriculture and Food is chaired by Eduardo L. Llorente, vice-chaired by Dario G. Romano with Richard M. Languido, Cromwell S. Cocamas and Ronald P. Dimaya as members. Meanwhile, 2nd District Davao del Norte Congressman Alan Dujali chairs the Committee on Agriculture in Congress.
Like Llorente’s committee, Dujali did not pass any legislation to address the problems faced by independent small banana growers here in Santo Tomas except from the bill he proposed that seeks to establish a banana research center for Panama disease.
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