THE Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) on Friday asked for a year-long moratorium on the collection of land rents being levied by local government units (LGUs) and landowners on farmers in areas heavily hit by flooding in the South.

KMP chairman and Anakpawis president Rafael Mariano said the moratorium is "most humane thing" the LGUs and landowners can do for the farmers who have lost most of their crops to floods.

Mariano said they are seeking support for their call from governors and mayors in the affected provinces.

"We are also asking LGUs to give relief and support services to farmers like credit incentives," he said. "It is the food security of the nation that is at stake here and we must do all we can to maintain it."

Data provided by the group said the floods have damaged P68.9 million worth of agricultural crops and P483 million in infrastructure in Eastern Visayas. The floods also affected 339,736 people, dislocating 288,782 of them who had to move to evacuation centers.

Areas hardest hit by the rains and floods in the past few days are Eastern Samar and Leyte in Eastern Viisayas, Sorsogon, Catanduanes and Albay in Bicol, and Capiz in Western Visayas. – Job T. Realubit