[1]Drought has spread in several provinces of Mindanao Island. Photo from the Facebook page of RMP-NMR
Since March, thousands of hungry farmers in the southern island of Mindanao in the Philippines have been staging various forms of protests in city centers demanding the immediate release of rice intended for drought victims.
Because of the El Niño [2] weather phenomenon which has led to an acute water shortage and the drying up of irrigated lands in the country's rural areas, farmers have been unable to plant crops for several months. Early this year, a state of calamity was declared [3] in many provinces of Mindanao, which means local authorities are authorized to use special funds in order to provide food aid to affected residents.
But in March, many farmers complained that the rice procured by the government has yet to be distributed in their villages. More than 4,000 farmers gathered [4] in front of a government-owned rice warehouse in Kidapawan City to demand the release of rice and calamity funds. But instead of providing rice to the farmers, the police violently dispersed the street barricade protest on April 1.
Because of the incident, the hashtag #BigasHindiBala (Rice, Not Bullets) trended after Internet users questioned the decision of the police to attack the farmers who were simply asking for food. Many also commented that it is tragic to see the country’s food producers going hungry while politicians are slow in addressing the El Niño disaster.
A rice donation campaign was launched, which was actively supported by various charity groups, concerned citizens, and celebrities.
[5]A rice distribution activity was held in the town of Arakan. Private groups donated the rice. Photo from the Facebook page of Bigas Hindi Bala
[6]A village in the town of Magpet was a recipient of a rice donation campaign. Photo from the Facebook page of Bigas Hindi Bala
A few days after the bloody dispersal in Kidapawan, farmers in nearby provinces in Mindanao organized their own protest to demand rice from the government.
In north Mindanao, peasant leader Ireneo Udarbe explains the impact [7] of El Niño in the rural communities:
Our livelihood is dependent on the land which is now too parched to grow anything. Farmers are innovative. We can look for alternative crops to plant, find some growths that are edible. But right now there is simply nothing – just hectares of dust that even weed won’t grow on.
[8]Farmers in Valencia, Philippines, hold a street protest to demand the release of calamity funds. Photo from RMP-NMR
About 5,000 farmers gathered in the towns of Valencia and Malaybalay to pressure the government to distribute rice to drought victims.
[9]Farmers stage a protest in the capital of Bukidnon province. Photo from the Facebook page of RMP-NMR
[10]Farmers protesting in Bukidnon province. Photo from the Facebook page of RMP-NMR
The protest succeeded after the governor of the province promised to distribute one sack of rice to every family of farmers affected by El Niño. He also vowed to distribute one sack of seedlings and two sacks of fertilizers per hectare to farmers in preparation for the planting season.
[11]The governor of the province speaks before a group of protesting farmers. Photo from the Facebook page of RMP-NMR
In South Cotabato province, about 3,000 farmers blocked a national highway in the regional capital to demand the distribution of rice. After five days, the local government agreed to provide 25 kilos of rice as monthly subsidy for all the drought-stricken farmers in the region until harvest season comes.
[12]Farmers block a national highway in Koronadal City. The big banner reads: “Food and Justice”. Photo by Kath Cortez. Source: Facebook
[13]Protesting farmers block a national highway. Photo by Ace R. Morandante. Source: davaotoday.com
[14]Protesting farmers succeeded in getting rice from a government warehouse. Photo by Kath Cortez. Source: Facebook
[15]Farmers receive rice aid from the government. Photo by Kath Cortez. Source: Facebook