Farmers protest Marcos-era PD 27 land reform; demand genuine land reform as solution to the rice and food crisis
On the 52nd year of the Marcos Sr-era Presidential Decree 27 or emancipation of farmer-tenants from the bondage of the soil, contingents from Southern Luzon and Central Luzon provinces are in Metro Manila to protest the persisting absence of genuine agrarian reform under Marcos Jr.
The peasant group maintained the necessity of genuine land reform to address the prevailing food insecurity and the worsening crisis of PH agriculture.
“Despite various land reform programs—from PD 27 to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, and now President Bongbong Marcos’ New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA)—farmers remain landless, and rural poverty persists. The Marcos legacy remains — landlessness of the many and affluence of the few. There is no real emancipation of farmers under Marcos’ administration,” according to Danilo Ramos, chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas. In fact, according to KMP, landlords continue to thrive under Marcos:
The Villar family has a 11, 210 declared land bank aside from Vista Land Properties
Ramon Ang of San Miguel Corporation has 37, 307 hectares of declared SMC properties
The Zobel-Ayala conglomerate has 25,440 hectares land bank and other Ayala Land Inc. properties
Consunji of DMCI has 102, 954 hectares for logging across Mindanao and 6,600 hectares of oil palm plantation expansion in Negros
Haciendas, agri-corporation plantations covering more than 150,000 hectares, and big landholdings remain intact amid landlessness of farmers.
Farmers have declared Bongbong Jr as the leading cause of hunger in the country with the persistent rice and food inflation. The Philippines, for the second year, is the world’s top rice importer after China, and projections show this trend will continue until 2025.
Protesters continues to call for genuine land reform, disaster compensation for farmers affected by El Niño and La Niña which accumulated billions in damages to agriculture and crops.
KMP and Tanggol Magsasaka have demanded a stop to the de facto Martial Law in peasant communities, which has resulted in widespread rights abuses. Data from rights network Tanggol Magsasaka reveal that 72 out of the 105 victims of extrajudicial killings under Marcos are farmers, with most victims from Masbate and Negros. Majority of the 755 political prisoners in the country are farmers.
Rural-based groups will also present their 12-point Peasant Agenda for the 2025 midterm elections, challenging politicians whose policies have worsened farmers’ conditions.
An 8-foot effigy of an embossed map of the Philippines symbolizing existing land monopolies and political dynasties highlighted the youth advocates’ participation in the rally.
The action today caps off a month-long series of events for October Peasant Month and will signal the start of the campaign to demand justice for the 20th year of the heinous Hacienda Luisita Massacre.
In the afternoon, farmers from Southern Tagalog will lead protests at the Departments of Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples.
Simultaneous protests and assemblies will take place in Tuguegarao City, Cebu City, Iloilo City, Bicol, La Union, Ilocos, and Negros provinces. Filipinos and compatriots abroad will also mark today as the Global Day of Action for Solidarity with Peasants. ##
updates from the peasant movement of the Philippines 