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Philippines' Agrarian Reform Faces Unfinished Challenges Amid Calls for Holistic Solutions
The unfinished business of agrarian reform
Inquirer
Image: Inquirer
As of June 10, 2023, the Philippines' agrarian reform, initiated 38 years ago, claims to be nearing completion with 700,000 hectares remaining. However, the June 10 Land Rights Committee argues that significant challenges persist, including land dispossession and inadequate support for beneficiaries. They advocate for a comprehensive approach called the 4Rs—Redistribution, Recognition, Restitution, and Regulation—to achieve true agrarian justice.
- 01The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program has redistributed nearly half of the Philippines' 13 million hectares of agricultural land.
- 02Current challenges include land reconcentration, conflicting land laws, capitalist land grabs, and rising farming costs.
- 03Urbanization has led to 50% of the population living in cities, exacerbating food insecurity and joblessness among rural workers.
- 04The 4Rs framework aims to address not just land redistribution but also the recognition of diverse land rights and past injustices.
- 05Agrarian movements plan to protest at the Department of Agrarian Reform on June 10 to highlight ongoing issues.
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On June 10, 2023, the Philippines marks 38 years since the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was enacted, with claims that only 700,000 hectares of land remain to be redistributed. However, the June 10 Land Rights Committee, comprising agrarian and climate justice advocates, contests these claims, arguing that many rural workers still lack access to land and face dispossession due to inadequate state support. Research indicates that agrarian reform has encountered significant challenges, including land reconcentration, overlapping land laws, and capitalist land grabs, which threaten the livelihoods of farmers. Urbanization has also contributed to rising joblessness, with nearly half of the population now living in cities. To address these issues, contemporary agrarian movements are advocating for a holistic framework known as the 4Rs—Redistribution, Recognition, Restitution, and Regulation—aimed at ensuring land serves the needs of people and promotes food sovereignty. As part of their efforts, activists plan to gather at the Department of Agrarian Reform to highlight ongoing land issues and push for a more comprehensive approach to agrarian reform.
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The ongoing challenges in agrarian reform affect the livelihoods of rural workers and their ability to access land.
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