Yesterday, The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas held a forum-consultation in Bulacan State University for farmers from Malolos City, and the municipalities of Plaridel, and Calumpit regarding their pertinent issues and struggles faced. The event was organized along with Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan, Gabriela Women’s Party, Sentro Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo – Sentra , Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura, and the BSU Student Government. Students of the BSU, peasant advocates, and cultural workers were also in attendance.
KMP Chairperson and Makabayan senatorial bet Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos opened the forum with discussion of the national situation of the peasantry, and a briefer of farmers’ rights. With the varying and neighboring nature of the concerns, he highlighted the necessity of collective action for all farmers in Bulacan.
Central Luzon and Bulacan in particular remains to be a focal region for land grabbing, land use conversion (LUC), and unresolved land cases. Nearing the 52nd anniversary of PD 27’s implementation, Marcos Sr-era policies that shaped the current problems of landlessness are reiterated and are still felt by farmers today.
In a breakout workshop facilitated by Gabriela Women’s Party First Nominee Sarah Elago, LUCs specifically the Bulacan Aerotropolis posed harmful effects to farmers and fisherfolk of Brgy. Sapang Bayan in Calumpit. Since 2016, floods were more frequent and saltwater began to enter the farmlands, damaging their agricultural production. Students are even affected, with some schools closing down during flooding.
SENTRA Executive Director Atty. Jobert Pahilga facilitated a session on land cases, highlighting threats of eviction despite fully-paid amortizations on PD 27 lands in Brgys. Sumapang Bata and Sumapang Matanda.
UMA Secretary General Butch Lozande discussed the importance of “Bungkalan” (collective land cultivation) to strengthen farmers’ associations amid shrinking farm sizes and land grabs. He cited a case where a farmer was evicted in 2018 after decades of tilling the land for a meager share of the harvest.
KMP extends its gratitude to the BSU Student Government and all participating organizations for their solidarity with farmers.
On October 21, the Bulacan farmers are set to join the nationally-coordinated protest to call for genuine land reform and social justice.
updates from the peasant movement of the Philippines 