Reports from Correspondents:
Reduce transport fees for string beans, Bulacan farmers cry

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

Organized farmers in eastern Bulacan are currently waging a campaign to reduce fees charged for transporting string beans from P3 to P2 per bundle. The campaign is being waged amid efforts to organize the Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Magbubukid (PKM) chapter in the area.

In a statement, the PKM in eastern Bulacan said that at the rate of P3 per bundle of string beans, truckers earn a total of P9,000 per trip. But they spend only P2,100 per trip for diesel and parking fees and for food and wages for their truck driver and helper. Their net income per trip thus amounts to P6,900.

Said the PKM: "They rake in a whopping P6,900 just for one trip without lifting a finger. We break our backs, planting and cultivating string beans for four months and end up with nothing but a growing list of debts!"

The PKM added: "These financier-transporters have squeezed us dry of our already meager livelihoods! Exacting exorbitant profits on fertilizers and pesticides, imposing high interest rates on cash advances and loans, charging sky-high rental for machinery especially by padding bills of accounts, depressing the price of string beans! And still they overcharge us for transport fees!"

The PKM condemned the landlord-merchants exploiting the farmers. Said the PKM, "the NPA is one with us in advancing our struggle because addressing the interests of the peasantry is the main content of the CPP-NPA program for a people's democratic revolution."

November 2002
English Edition

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	Reports from Correspondents: Liberalization of vegetable and rice imports detrimental to farmers
	Reports from Correspondents: Campaign vs. hunger gains momentum in Panay
	Reports from Correspondents: Reduce transport fees for string beans, Bulacan farmers cry
	Macapagal-Arroyo: Enemy of government employees
	The scandalous corruption of the Arroyos
	William Hinton, Joan Hinton and Erwin "Sid" Engst: A tribute to true proletarian internationalists and anti-imperialists
	News
	Errata in the AB October 2002 English edition