Farmers from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) called on Dept. of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Rogelio Singson to quit his post in the wake of allegations of overpriced bunkhouses in Typhoon Yolanda-affected areas, saying that only his resignation now can “pave the way for an independent investigation.”

Singson promised to resign if the more than 200 bunkhouses being built by the DPWH in Leyte and Samar were proven to be overpriced. A report exposed that the bunkhouses cost almost P1 million each, while their true value is being pegged at only P200,000.

“Given the notoriety of Singson’s department in building overpriced and substandard roads, bridges, and classroom buildings, lingering doubts that the bunkhouses are overpriced cannot be ignored…Our two cents for Singson is for him to just quit, no ifs no buts,” says KMP secretary general Antonio Flores.

KMP, whose farmer members are among typhoon survivors, said that the bunkhouse scam “exposes the fallacy of Aquino’s rehabilitation policy,” noting that the bunkhouses seemed to be “undoubtedly and purposely designed for kickbacks.”

A bunkhouse is composed of 24 units, with one unit meant for one family measuring only 8.64 square meters. It is meant as a temporary shelter for typhoon survivors.

The group also said that President Aquino’s rehabilitation plan paves the way for “big landlords to again grab and control the lands.”

“While the Aquino government (says that it) is ensuring protection of pre-disaster property rights, the poor victims and survivors, majority of farmers and fisherfolks (are) barred to go back to their coastal villages,” Flores added, citing reports from the ground.

In the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) masterplan for Reconstruction Assistance on Yolanda (RAY), the government has given prime importance to Public-Private Partnerships, which farmers fear would escalate land grabbing.

“Government seeks to enable new modalities to encourage and facilitate the active involvement of the private sector in implementing RAY. Options for greater private sector involvement include: expansion of public-private partnership arrangements for major investment programs,” the document said.

Instead, the KMP is calling for the farmers’ “full ownership rights over the lands” that they are determined to make productive again.

“This should be followed by a direct and full government subsidy to farmers and agricultural production in severely devastated areas. The government must provide all production costs – from land preparation, seeds, fertilizers, including food subsidy and labor costs, and other production and post-production expenses,” Flores added.

Meanwhile, the artists group AKKSYON (Artista Kontra-Kurapsyon), which figured prominently during last year’s protest actions against the pork barrel, said that the “culture of corruption” remains and must be resisted by artists and the Filipino people.

“These reports come as no surprise when (President) Aquino is clearly intent on remaining the pork barrel king as we move into the new year. Despite calls for transparency, overpricing and patronage politics have deprived the victims of both adequate shelter and long term solutions for their livelihood,” said Renan Ortiz, 13 Artist Awardee and spokesperson of AKKSYON.