(MB FILE PHOTO)

President Marcos’ “bold reset” of his administration should include direct and regular consultations with the country’s basic sectors, the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and the National Trade Union Center of the Philippines (NTUC PHL) said on Monday, May 26

In a statement, the groups urged Marcos to engage directly with farmers, fishers, and workers, warning that failure to do so could leave crucial sectors behind.

“Knowing that the basic sectors have direct access to the President will keep the heads of Departments and other key agencies ‘on their toes’ in addressing major concerns of the working class,” FFF chairperson and NTUC PHL vice president Leonardo Q. Montemayor said.

He acknowledged President Marcos’ periodic meetings with top businessmen through the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC). 

However, Montemayor stressed the need for a counterpart body that would represent ordinary Filipinos.

“Having a Basic Sectors Advisory Council or BSAC will inform the President on the perspective of ordinary Filipinos and help him craft a more balanced approach to policy making and program execution. It will also temper the general perception that the President’s economic team is primarily pro-big business and pro-foreign investor,” he pointed out.

The ongoing cabinet revamp, according to Montemayor, should come with a no-nonsense evaluation of frontline agencies like the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

“While the Secretaries of these Departments have been generally approachable, much remains to be done by them. For instance, the DOLE should be pushing harder for a ‘living wage’. The DA must exert greater efforts to ensuring fair prices for farmers’ produce. The DAR should act decisively on longstanding agrarian disputes, many of which have caused death or injury to farmer-victims,” he stated.

Montemayor cited “violent” agrarian reform cases in several areas, including Alacaak, Sta. Cruz in Occidental Mindoro; Amai Manabilang in Lanao del Sur; and Guinobatan, Calapan City in Oriental Mindoro. In these areas, agrarian reform beneficiaries have allegedly suffered physical harassment, displacement, and even killings.

Despite his criticism of the broader system, Montemayor lauded at least one official. 

“Among incumbent sub-cabinet officials,” he said, “Administrator Eduardo G. Guillen of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has done outstanding work.”