Philippines heeds call of citizens in breakthrough land reform plan

Landless farmers till fields in the Philippines
In the Philippines, more than one million farmers work on land they do not own. (Photo: UNDP)

“With a piece of land titled in our names, we will be able to make long-term plans for a better life for our families,” said Belen Nana, president of the Organization of Farmers and Tree Planters, a cooperative in Antipolo in the northern Philippines province of Rizal. “Now I plan to send my children to college.”

Nana and more than one million landless Filipino farmers will soon own the plots they have been tilling for generations, following the signing two months ago of the 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, which includes the implementation of a land reform programme as one of its priorities.

Highlights

  • 1.5 million hectares of agricultural lands will be distributed to over one million landless farmers in the Philippines.
  • UNDP and the UN Millennium Campaign have provided US$32,140 in support of these efforts.
  • Despite economic growth in the Philippines, 33% of Filipinos still live on less than US$1/day and unemployment rose between 2008-2009.

A lobby of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) pressured the Government to take action on land reform legislation enacted in 1988 but poorly implemented due to resistance from influential landowners. Under the latest plan, 1.5 million hectares is to be distributed between 2011 and 2014.

“We experienced many stumbling blocks and frustrations,” said Sixto Donato Macasaet, Executive Director of the Caucus of Development NGOs Networks that, along with Freedom from Debt Coalition, convened more than 20 national groups to unite in advocacy efforts.

“Through the civil society group’s persistence and with the support of some allies—also in the Government— we were able to make some significant gains.”

The groups’ efforts gained new momentum last year with the support of a US$32,140 grant from a joint United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) initiative with the UN Millennium Campaign aimed at boosting civic participation in national development plans.

The Philippines was one of six countries that received funding under the partnership, Platform HD (Human Development), which was established with the support of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Achievement Fund.

Civil society groups are currently liaising with the Government on human development and poverty reduction, providing inputs to an anti-poverty programme and ensuring their future participation in public policy formulation.

“We are pleased to have supported civil society in advocating for the achievement of the MDGs,” said Jacqui Badcock, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines. “The government also played an important role of in heeding the call of its citizens.”