The Department of Agrarian Reform will be sending home at least 91 farmers to Mindanao who have been camping in front of its central office in Quezon City for more than two months.
Acting DAR Secretary John Castriciones said he wanted the concerned farmers to be with their families for Christmas, adding it is high time to listen to the reasons why poor farmers go to the streets to ventilate their grievances and issues.
During his first meeting with agency officials, Castriciones raised the issue of how to help the farmers, led by Pedro Arnado, Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Southern Mindanao chairman who wrote him a solicitation letter expressing their desire to go home for Christmas.
The letter was addressed to Castriciones and other officials and was coursed through the office of director Leomides Villareal of the Public Assistance and Media Relations Service.
The DAR chief immediately convened a team to plan out the program for the send-off ceremony.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority through deputy director Diosdado Padilla will also distribute scholarship certificates as part of the package the government for the farmers
On the other hand, Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte will provide the farmers with food and boxes of bottled water for their days of travel.