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SAN
Miguel Foods Inc. (SMFI) will file its formal appeal
Wednesday to the decision of Malacañang reverting the
classification of some 144 hectares of land in Sumilao,
Bukidnon, that the company is converting into an
agro-industrial zone to agricultural.
An
industry insider said SMFI has already finished its
written appeal and will be submitting it to Malacañang
today, with the hope that a favorable response from the
Palace would negate the possibility of a long legal
tussle on the matter.
“If
Malacañang will not grant its appeal, San Miguel will be
going to the Supreme Court,” the source said.
On
December 18, President Arroyo issued an executive order
reverting the classification of the 144 hectares land in
Sumilao, Bukidnon, back to agricultural from
agro-industrial, which came in the aftermath of a
dramatic demonstration made by the Sumilao farmers, who
walked from their hometown to Manila to demand that they
be awarded the ownership of the land.
This, in
effect, puts in peril the P2.4-billion investment made
by SMFI to convert the property into a modern
agro-industrial complex.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI)
called on the Sumilao farmers to accept the amicable
settlement being offered by San Miguel, saying this
would bring more benefits for the whole of Sumilao.
Jesus
Arranza, FPI president, also asked some officials of the
Church who have been supporting the farmers, to urge the
Sumilao farmers to come to terms with San Miguel by
accepting the firm’s offer.
He said
this will be a “win-win solution” since San Miguel has
promised to give the farmers a land similar to, or even
bigger than the size of the disputed property in the
nearby areas.
Also,
Arranza said San Miguel will provide employment to the
farmers and their families in SMFI’s agro-industrial
complex.
The
whole town of
Sumilao, Arranza said, will also benefit from the offer because the
development will not only create more than 2,000 jobs,
but will also raise the price of corn produced in the
area that the firm will be buying.
He said
the current P3 million in taxes the Sumilao town is
collecting yearly will be going up to P93 million once
SMFI starts its operations.
On the
part of San Miguel, Arranza said the company would no
longer need to dismantle the 21 buildings and other
infrastructure that were already in place.
SMFI, he
said, is ready to start its operations within the month. |
