By Nimfa L. Estrellado Affected farmers hold 'Pasyon' in Barangay Manggalang Kiling, highlighting their continued struggle over canc...
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| Affected farmers hold 'Pasyon' in Barangay Manggalang Kiling, highlighting their continued struggle over cancelled land titles and uncertain land rights. (Katarungan-Kilusan para sa Repormang Agraryo at Katarungan Panlipunan) |
SARIAYA, Quezon - The cancellation of land titles continues to raise concerns among farming communities in Quezon affected by long-running agrarian disputes. In Barangay Manggalang Kiling, around 80 farmers from 20 families gathered on April 2 to protest the loss of their land ownership rights.
Efren Mendoza, president of the Ugnayan ng Magsasaka sa Sariaya, said in a phone interview with Sentinel Times that the situation reflects prolonged uncertainty over land rights. He noted farmers continue to face unresolved concerns despite years of engagement with government agencies.
“Ngayong Semana Santa, ipinapakita namin ang aming kalbaryo na matagal na naming pinagdadaanan at dulot ito ng hindi makatarungang pagbawi sa aming mga lupa na siyang pinagkukunan ng aming kabuhayan.”
The dispute centers on 61 Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs), which are government-issued land titles, cancelled in March 2023 affecting about 88 hectares of farmland. The issue reflects broader concerns over land ownership security and the implementation of agrarian reform programs.
According to the group, the cancellations were based on a 1982 zoning ordinance classifying the land as an ecotourism zone. The classification does not reflect the area’s long-standing use for farming and agricultural production.
The dispute stems from a legal case in which landowners sought exemption from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), a government program that distributes land to farmers. In 2020, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the landowners, leading to the cancellation of the land titles.
Many of the affected farmers have cultivated the land for over a century and rely on it as their primary source of livelihood. Nearly 1,000 residents depend on coconut farming as their main source of income in the area.
Mendoza said farmers continue to occupy and manage the land despite the cancellation of their ownership titles, warning that enforcement could lead to displacement and loss of livelihood. He stressed they will continue to call for the return of their land rights through sustained and collective action until a formal resolution is reached.
“Patuloy ang aming panawagan hanggang hindi lubusang naibabalik sa amin ang aming mga lupa at hindi kami titigil hangga’t hindi naibibigay ang nararapat na katarungan sa mga magsasaka.”
Economic pressures on coconut farming persist amid changing market conditions over time. Whole coconuts sold for about ₱5 in the early 2000s and increased to ₱12 in 2026.
Declining copra prices and rising fuel costs have added pressure on production expenses in recent years. These factors continue to reduce income among small-scale farmers.
“Bumababa ang kita namin dahil sa murang presyo ng kopra habang tumataas ang gastos sa produksyon at transportasyon, kaya nahihirapan na kaming mapanatili ang aming kabuhayan sa ganitong kalagayan.”
During Holy Week, farmers held “pabasa” or readings of the Pasyong Mahal, a traditional Filipino text about the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in their communities as part of their observance. The activity served as both a religious practice and a gathering point for affected families.
The observance reinforces solidarity among affected families and strengthens community participation. It also reflects the connection between faith and ongoing calls for land rights.
The group is urging the Department of Agrarian Reform to help reopen their case through the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, a government body that oversees agrarian reform policies. The case has been under review since 2021 but remains unresolved.
They also appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reconsider the cancellation of their land titles. The farmers are calling for the restoration of their land rights.
With no clear response from concerned agencies, farmers are preparing to escalate their protest actions in June. The outcome of the case now stands to determine whether farming communities retain their land or lose their primary source of survival.
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