Change in economic provision exposes 14.2-M hectares of land to foreigners

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EV ESPIRITU

MANILA, Philippines — An estimated 14.2 million hectares of land may be exposed to full foreign ownership amid the proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution, resulting in further displacement of farmers and indigenous people, said a farmers’ group on Monday.

According to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the planned economic provisions would expose and make vulnerable the country’s 14.2 million hectares of alienable and disposable public lands — citing National Mapping and Resource Information Authority data —  to 100 percent foreign ownership.

Aside from foreign ownership, KMP said the proposed lifting of restrictive and protectionist provisions of the Constitution would allow foreign businesses to fully own private properties, congressional franchises, schools, mass media, and vital public utilities.

“Marcos Jr’s Cha-cha will only equate to the wanton plunder of our remaining land and natural resources. Instead of devoting our land and resources to the genuine development of domestic agriculture, economy, and industries, ChaCha will allow more foreign-owned extractive industries, logging, ecotourism, real estate projects, expansion of agro-corporation plantations, and other business operations intended for profit-making,” said the KMP in a statement.

Furthermore, 100 percent foreign ownership of land may also further drive the displacement and ejection of farmers and indigenous people.

“Mag-uunahan ang mga ahente ng lupa sa pangangamkam, pabarat na pagbili ng lupa, pag-iipon ng lupa (land banking), at pagbebenta ng lupa. Mangangahulugan ito ng mas malawakang pagpapalayas sa mga magbubukid at katutubo, pagpapataw ng mas matataas na upa sa lupa, lalong pagkalugi ng mga magsasaka, pagtigil sa pagsasaka, pagpapalit-gamit ng lupa, at pagkalusaw sa mga kabuhayang agrikultural,” said KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos.

(Land agents will rush into land grabbing, coercive land purchases, land banking, and land selling. This implies a broader displacement of farmers and indigenous people, imposition of higher land rents, further losses for farmers, cessation of farming activities, land conversion, and the dissolution of agricultural livelihoods.)

Ramos added that the proposed Charter Change will end jeopardizing food security and livelihood for Filipinos, leading to widespread hunger, loss of livelihoods, and increased poverty.

READ: Senate to review proposal to amend Charter’s economic provisions

With this, the KMP urged the public to oppose the move to amend the existing economic provisions.

READ: New initiative push: Perilous, dangerous

“We must unite to expose and oppose this latest move to railroad charter provisions that will lead to greater suffering for the majority of Filipinos,” the KMP concluded.

Romualdez made the pronouncement after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri filed Resolution of Both Houses No. 6, recommending the amendment of following economic provisions within the Constitution.

• Section 11 Article 12 (National Patrimony and Economy)
• Paragraph 2 Section 4 of Article 14 (Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports)
• Paragraph 2 Section 11 of Article 16 (General Provisions – Advertising