From March 24, approximately 300 farmers from Central Luzon have gathered outside the Department of Agrarian Reform building in Quezon City for a week-long protest camp against land use conversion and land grabbing in the region.

The agricultural lands in the region, known as the Rice Granary of the Philippines, are being allocated for infrastructure, industrial use, real estate projects and for “renewable” projects that are detrimental to farmers.

These projects in the region were railroaded and intensified under the framework of the Duterte regime’s Build, Build, Build program (2017-2022) and Marcos’ Build Better More program (2023-2028). Farmers said these result in their widespread eviction, and destruction of farmlands.

Led by the Unyon ng mga Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), and Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Gitnang Luzon (AMGL), farmers called on DAR to impose a moratorium on land use conversion projects, stop granting permits for applications, and protect the rights of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs). The farmers had a dialogue with DAR officials on March 24 to present their grievances.

Meanwhile, they condemned the government for what they call “agrarian injustice” in the country in implementing pro-business policies. These policies include the Rice Liberalization Law enacted during the former Duterte regime and now being intensified by the Marcos regime. Furthermore, the Philippine government’s land reform policy remains ineffective.

“The DAR, instead of protecting agrarian reform beneficiaries, is enabling big businesses to take over productive farmlands,” UMA chairman Ariel Casilao said. KMP chairman and Makabayan coalition senatorial candidate Ka Danilo Ramos said “they are destroying livelihoods and creating economic refugees in the name of development for local and foreign businesses.”

Youth groups led by the National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates Youth expressed support for the protest camp. They will participate in the activities at the protest camp of farmers from Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, and Zambales.