Members of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, National Federation of Sugar Workers and Bayan-Negros Occidental are staging a camp-out at the basketball court in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform office in Bacolod City until Friday to press for their concerns.

Christian Tuayon, secretary general of Bayan Negros Occidental, said that among the concerns is the alleged entrance of trans-national corporation DOLE-Philippines to the province, which they oppose.

Tuayon said they oppose the entrance of DOLE, a company known for exporting pineapple and banana, because they fear that this may lead to land-grabbing.

He said they have received information that DOLE is interested in leasing several hectares of land in Hacienda Ilimnan, Brgy. Sta. Rosa, Murcia town where the Negros First Ranch of the provincial government is situated so they can convert it to a banana and pineapple plantation.

Tuayon urged Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr. to shed light on the matter because the land intended for lease is part of the disputed area being claimed by Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries under the KMP and NFSW.

Aside from DOLE-Philippines, other corporations reportedly showing interest in leasing lands in Negros Occidental is PhilTrust, a company that is into oil-palm planting and Del Monte, also into banana and pineapple plantation, Tuayon said.

He said their camp-out will also call for DAR to fast-track the processing of the Certificate of Land Ownership Awards for ARBs.*APN

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