Barangay San Vicente was awarded as Most Outstanding Barangay for Kaangayan last May 27 during the Balay Mindanaw Awards 2016
The Most Outstanding Barangay for Kaangayaan was given to the community that has shown outstanding local capacities in addressing issues of injustice and inequities. The finalists for this category were Barangay San Vicente of Sumilao, Bukidnon, Barangay Mimbuahan of Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental and Barangay Tubo-tubo, Cagwait, Surigao del Sur.
Barangay San Vicente’s initiative entitled “Strengthening People’s Organizations and Local Structures in Improving Land and Resource Tenure and Promotion of Good Governance” puts emphasis on the struggle of Sumilao Farmers (then MAPALAD farmers) to take back the 144 hectares of land claimed by San Miguel Corporation through active non-violent strategies such as staging a hunger strike in 1997 which lasted for 28 days and the historic 1,700 kilometer walk for justice from Bukidnon to Manila in 2007. The farmers did not win the battle thru the legal process but through negotiations and metalegal tactics that gain positive results in getting a win-win solution to the injustice and inequities they experienced for more than a decade.
The “Hunger Strike” and “Walk for Land, Walk for Justice” strategies have inspired other farmers in various parts of the country. Some even staged their own version of hunger strike and kilometer walk as a means of showing protest to the injustices and inequities to the marginalized.
