The Alliance of Farmers in Bulacan (AMB), a chapter of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) held its Bagsakan (drop-off) against COVID-19. The group was able to transport their fruits and vegetable produce to Metro Manila and delivered them to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Community Baclaran Church. These vegetables will be used by the Baclaran Church for its mobile kitchen, a relief operation effort for the homeless and urban poor communities in Metro Manila drastically affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

These fresh fruits and vegetables come from the bungkalan or land occupation areas in Bulacan who have been threatened to be displaced by the development projects around the MRT7. With no clear support both from the national and local government, the farmers and the urban poor are finding ways to bring food to the table everyday. Efforts like this benefits both communities especially now that the farmers find it difficult to sell their produce in the markets outside and inside Metro Manila due to the strict implementation of the enhanced community quarantine.

Sagip Kanayunan (Save the Countryside) is KMP’s sustained program of relief and rehabilitation efforts for peasant communities ravaged by various calamities.

We encourage our networks and other organisations to help both our farmers and the urban poor communities by supporting and organizing relief efforts for them.

#FightCOVID19 #COVID19PH #LandToTheTillers