Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1780896694267HKQEaKyaEAAG7Vx.jfif" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">The June 10 Land Rights Committee coalition holds a press conference outside the Department of Agrarian Reform building in Quezon City on Monday, June 8.<em> Eon Sanchez, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA — More than 500 farmers from various provinces across the country marched to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City on early Monday morning to press for the resolution of long-standing land rights cases and seek a dialogue with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.</div><p>The mobilization, organized by the June 10 Land Rights Committee, began with an assembly near the National Housing Authority before participants marched to the DAR central office, where they are expected to camp out until June 10.</p><p>Farmers and supporters from Mindoro, Negros, Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bulacan, and Aurora joined the protest, which coincides with the 38th anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).</p><div style="text-align:center"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F928579323538963%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div><p>“Itong isinasagawa nating protesta, ito ay bilang bahagi ng paparating na 38 taong anibersaryo ng repormang agraryo at ito ay para singilin natin lalo na si Secretary [Conrado] Estrella III ng Department of Agrarian Reform sa mga pangako na dapat na ipatupad,” said Jansept Geronimo, spokesperson of Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungan Panlipunan (KATARUNGAN).</p><p>The coalition said farmers continue to face unresolved agrarian reform issues decades after the enactment of CARP.</p><p>“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin natin nakakamtan ang hustisyang panlipunan. Marami sa mga magsasaka natin, mga kasama natin na nariro ngayon, ay may mga dalang resibo. Resibo ng katunayan na hindi naipapatupad ang repormang agraryo,” Geronimo said.</p><p>He added that some agrarian reform beneficiaries remain vulnerable despite holding Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs).</p><p>“Marami sa kanila ang walang lupa. Marami sa kanila ang meron ngang CLOA, pero pinapalayas pa rin,” he said.</p><p>According to the coalition, they have brought at least 30 agrarian reform cases from different parts of the country, including reported CLOA cancellations, delayed implementation of land reform decisions, land-use conversion, and disputes involving awarded agricultural lands.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/23/17-farmers-file-land-grabbing-complaint-vs-harry-roque-others-1902">17 farmers file land grabbing complaint vs Harry Roque, others</a></div><p>Among the farmers who joined the protest was Alma Ravina, who recounted decades of struggle over land ownership.</p><p>“1982 po kami nagsimulang magsaka hanggang lumapit po sa amin ang mga taga-DAR nang maging karapatan namin sa lupa ay maging amin kaya nagsimula po kami magpetisyon,” Ravina said. </p><p>She said they later experienced harassment and eviction from the land they cultivated.</p><p>“Nagsimula po nagkagulo kami na, hinarass na kami ng dating may-ari. Pinapaalis kami sa aming sakahan,” she said.</p><p>“Pinapaalis kami 2004. Hinarass na kami nang todo hanggang wala na kami sa aming sakahan. Lumaban kami nang lumaban.”</p><p>The groups also criticized what they described as the lack of sustained dialogue between farmers and the agrarian reform department.</p><p>“’Yun lang po ang ating panawagan. Syempre ay pakinggan tayo ni Secretary Estrella. Sa mga nakalipas na tatlong taon, hiniling natin laging makipagdialogue sa kanya, makipag-ugnayan sa pamamagitan ng mapayapang pakikipag-usap pero hindi naganap,” Geronimo said.</p><p>“Kung hindi man siya makaharap ngayon, hihintayin namin siya hanggang June 10,” he added.</p><p>Kamanggagawa Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando, who attended the activity, said agrarian reform remains unfinished nearly four decades after CARP was signed into law.</p><p>“Mag-a-apat na dekada na ang lumipas pero hindi pa naging ganap ’yung pangako ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law na una, ipamahagi ang lahat ng lupa sa mga magsasaka. Pangalawa, hindi lang simpleng pamamahagi, kundi pagbibigay ng mga suporta sa ating mga magsasaka,” San Fernando said.</p><p>He also raised concerns over alleged land grabbing and reversals of land awards granted to agrarian reform beneficiaries.</p><p>“Pangatlo, nakikita natin yung mga agrarian reform beneficiaries nabigay na sa kanila yung lupa, e nababawi o nababaliktad yung pagka-award sa kanila ng lupa dahil sa sistematiko na pagla-land grab,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/3/16/more-than-100-mindoro-farmers-receive-long-awaited-land-titles-from-dar-1350">More than 100 Mindoro farmers receive long-awaited land titles from DAR</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_QXHq4U1AFs?si=17IOqMBwjI1pCiI0" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Some 500 farmers from various provinces across the country marched to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City on early Monday morning to press for the resolution of long-standing land rights cases and seek a dialogue with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.</p>

Some 500 farmers from various provinces across the country marched to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Quezon City on early Monday morning to press for the resolution of long-standing land rights cases and seek a dialogue with Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III.

Peasant groups demand action on agrarian reform issues, camp out at DAR headquarters

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Peasant groups demand action on agrarian reform issues, camp out at DAR headquarters

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 01:38 PM PHT

Read More:

June 10 Land Rights Committee

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

Department of Agrarian Reform

Secretary Conrado Estrella III

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