Ang Bayan, the Philippines – Fight for land and livelihood rights!
We hereby share the article by Ang Bayan published on the May 21 issue and found in Philippine Revolution Web Central.
Peasants, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples across the country are taking action for their rights to land, livelihood and homes against local and foreign corporations and amid the Marcos regime’s neglect and fascism.
Porters, vendors and residents in Benguet held a prayer vigil at La Trinidad Vegetable Trading Post on May 13 to condemn the Department of Agriculture’s importation of carrots. The department announced plans to import 6,000 metric tons of carrots for April, May and June to allegedly address supply shortages and lower market prices.
Ten farmers from different towns in Isabela gathered at the assembly of Danggayan Dagiti Mannalon ti Isabela (Dagami, or Association of Peasants of Isabela) and marched in Santiago City on May 11 to call for genuine land reform, production support, and defense of farmers’ rights. The assembly drafted a one‑year plan of action and announced newly elected officers and leaders who will strengthen the organization amid the rural crisis.
Small-scale fisherfolk in Dagupan City, Pangasinan convened at a consultation led by Pamalakaya on May 11 to oppose commercial fishing within the 15‑kilometer municipal waters. They fear the increasing number of large vessels in Lingayen Gulf following the Supreme Court decision in December 2024 that allowed big companies to fish there. The group plans to dialog with BFAR Region 1 to demand protection for their livelihoods.
Residents of barangays Pao, Paquet and Kakidugen in Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya erected barricades on May 9 to oppose the exploration project of the North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation. They aim to block the entry of the company’s equipment and fuel, and to stop the removal of mineral samples. The exploration covers 4,456 hectares of Bugkalot/Ilongot ancestral land for gold and copper mining.
Residents and farmers of Pook Malantik, Barangay UP Campus, Quezon City barricaded on May 20 to stop the entry of materials for construction of the UP‑DSHUD Housing Project, part of the proposed UP SDG Wellness Park. Megawide Construction Corporation’s construction will displace residents. A separate rally was held on May 12 by the neighboring Pook Aguinaldo community against the project.
Indigenous Manobos in Bukidnon condemned Green Arrow Agriventures Inc-Kennemer Foods International for the fencing off and grabbing of their ancestral land in Don Carlos. The company intends to expand its banana plantation on the seized land. The World Bank’s Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling (SPLIT) Project is being used to grab the land.
