UMVA has learned that a coalition of peasants, fisherfolk, indigenous groups, and climate activists has rallied behind a bold proposal to fast‑track land rights for thousands of agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Dubbed the June 10 Land Rights Committee, the alliance unites farmers, fishermen, women’s rural movements, and environmental advocates under a single banner, turning diverse voices into a powerful chorus demanding justice.
On May 28, the coalition penned a heartfelt letter to the Department of Agrarian Reform, spotlighting 19 urgent land cases that cover 18,566 hectares and touch the lives of 7,887 farmers and beneficiaries.
Each case represents more than acres; it is a claim to dignity, security, and the future of communities that have long struggled against ownership barriers and bureaucratic delays.
Campaign Senior Officer for Food, Land, Water, and Climate, Laica Rayel, voiced the coalition’s frustration: resistance from landowners and uneven government backing keep rightful owners in limbo.
She warned that the twin blows of a super El Niño and a looming energy‑economy crisis will deepen the hardships faced by farmers, threatening both their livelihoods and the nation’s food security.
“These obstacles must be addressed,” Rayel urged, “or the combined impacts of climate and crisis will crush our agricultural resilience and our ability to survive.”
The June 10 Land Rights Committee’s call is a stark reminder that land is not merely property—it is the heartbeat of communities, the foundation of sustainable futures, and the embodiment of true justice.
