By LITO RULONA, Correspondent the Peasant Movement in the Philippines – Northern Mindanao Region has called on President Rodrigo Duterte to distribute arable lands to peasants and to abolish haciendas and corporate plantations which have been resistant to land use conversion. Ireneo Udarbe, chairperson of Peasant Movement of the Philippines-NMR during the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR 10) - the National Discussion / Forum on Agrarian Reform Genuine held at Coconut Bay Beach Resort, in Barangay Tablon yesterday called on the present administration for free distribution of land, genuine agrarian reform, and national industrialization. Udarbe said during the commemoration of the Day of the Farmer or Peasant Day in conjunction with the 100th days of the Duterte’s administration which provides more chances for the peasant to spread the national democratic mass movement in calling for a genuine land reform. “Sa ika-100 nga adlaw sa paglingkod sa gahum ni Presidente Duterte, subli na usab namong ipalanog ang panginahanglan para sa tinuod nga reporma sa yuta. Kung ikumpara sa nangaging presidente may lahi nga mga maka-mag-uuma nga pahayag si Duterte,” he said. He said they are looking into the promise to restore the multi-billion coco levy fund haul from the coconut farmers. He also said the implementation of free irrigation. It can be recalled that Duterte named erstwhile peasant leader Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano as DAR secretary. “Whatever reforms Ka Paeng Mariano implements for the benefit of the farmers are bound to frustrate the landlords, corrupt officials and yellow and cohort agency,” he said. Udarbe said nine of every 10 farmers still do not own the land they are tilling. This is because of the landlessness, lack of support services, and unjust agricultural policies, he explained. Udarbe said they are stil lobbying for the enactment of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill 555 (Garb). The bill aims to distribute arable lands for free, and the dismantling of monopolies. “We continue to challenge Duterte to give attention to the agenda of the peasant masses for national transformation. We support the call for peace talks between the (government) and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines,” he added.