Farmers’ tribute to Isagani Yambot

In a tribute to Isagani Yambot, Ronalyn Olea wrote: “Gani, considered a giant in the Philippine media industry, is a simple man, a loving father, a passionate teacher and a staunch defender of [press] freedom.” Not known to many, Gani was also a true friend of the Filipino farmers. He inspired the growth and strengthening of Alyansa Agrikultura (AA). AA is a nationwide farmer-fisherfolk coalition with 42 federations and organizations covering all major agricultural sectors.

Background

Gani’s soul is partly captured by Pat Evangelista’s description in “After Gani”: “I have heard him called as one of the last idealists of Philippine journalism. This is the man caught crying while lighting a candle after 57 people were confirmed dead in the slaughter in Maguindanao.”

It is this compassion that many farmer leaders sensed when they met Gani, together with the strong principles he showed when he opposed the Estrada administration’s boycott of the Inquirer.

In 2003, when these leaders saw their fight for justice jeopardized by the forced exit of three of their key allies in the Department of Agriculture (DA), they sought strength through a united voice. But how could this be heard?

“Why not through the most widely circulated newspaper?” they asked. So they went to Gani, especially because of his compassion and principles. Gani responded by providing these leaders the opportunity for a weekly published commentary. This is where important agricultural issues could be identified and recommendations made.

Gani’s action strengthened the leaders’ resolve to organize: first for each agricultural sector, then as a united voice for agriculture. The rice farmer leaders in Nueva Ecija would join their counterparts from Bukidnon through the National Rice Farmers’ Council. The same would be done for other subsectors. Examples are the fisherfolk through the Kilusang Mangingisda, the poultry raisers through the Urban Broiler Raisers Association, the hog producers through the Pork Producers Association, and the women farmers through the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan. All these sectoral groups would then unite in a national coalition called Alyansa Agrikultura.

Successes

Farmers found out that the weekly commentaries made possible by Gani would often prove even more effective in achieving their objectives than rallies, which are time-consuming and expensive.

The published commentaries and recommendations would be sent to the appropriate decision-makers, who knew that their response would be recorded and possibly published in succeeding commentaries. Swift and favorable actions from these decision-makers would often occur. A few of the many successes will be mentioned here.

A Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) order terminating all community-based Forest Management Agreements was revoked after a meeting with DENR officials on such a commentary. This action prevented the massive dislocation of former “kaingeros” and the forest denudation by unscrupulous big business interests.

After a Senate hearing resulting from a commentary on rampant onion smuggling, the Bureau of Customs (BoC) took immediate action for fear that their further inaction would be publicized and penalized. This helped save the livelihood of approximately 80,000 onion farmers.

When government contemplated massive rice importation that would drastically decrease rice prices, Gani arranged provisions for the commentary “How to Balance Farmer and Consumer Interests” to be on the Inquirer’s front page. The planned massive importation was not pursued because of the widely publicized damaging effect on rice farmer incomes.

Partly because of the weekly Inquirer exposure, key AA leaders were recognized as official Philippine delegation representatives to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Sixth Ministerial Conference in December 2005. This was the first time farmer leaders formed part of a Philippine delegation to an international trade conference. They contributed significantly in preventing unfair and extreme tariff reduction that would have impoverished the farmers. Today, AA leaders are among the key organizers of AF 2025 with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and Congressional Agricultural Committee chairs Senator Francis Pangilinan and Representative Mark Mendoza.

Conclusion

National Press Club (NPC) president Jerry Yap said of Gani: “He did not only write. He did not only edit. He did not only publish. He taught many NPC members including those illustrious journalists lucky to have worked under the tutelage of this man who can be considered as one in a million. He is not dead.”

To the small farmers and fisherfolk, Gani will continue to live in their hearts. This is because he gave them the inspiration, guidance and opportunity to fight successfully for their shared goals of truth, social justice and economic progress.

(The author is chairman of Agriwatch, former secretary for presidential flagship programs and projects, and former undersecretary for Agriculture, and Trade and Industry. For inquiries and suggestions, e-mail [email protected] or telefax (02) 85221.)