Peasant leaders, land reform advocates launch new movement

CenPEG News
June 8, 2015

PLRM About 300 peasant leaders and land reform advocates from all over the country launched the Philippine Land Reform Movement (PLRM) on May 28, 2015 at the University of the Philippines’ CSWCD Building, Diliman, Quezon City.

In a launching announcement, former Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano, who is also chairperson of the Kilusang Magbubikid ng Pilipinas (KMP or Peasant Movement in the Philippines) and Fr. Rudy Abao, MSC, coordinating committee member of the Pagkakaisa parasa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo, said the PLRM calls “to put an end to landlord monopoly of lands, advocate a genuine land reform program that addresses farmers’ economic, political, and social emancipation.” The PLRM, they added, advocates genuine rural development, promotes national industrialization, and actively involves in the struggle for national sovereignty, peace, democracy, and social change.”

Two senior Fellows of CenPEG, Prof. Roland G. Simbulan, and Director for Policy Studies Bobby M. Tuazon spoke during the launching. Tuazon, the opening speaker, spoke on feudalism and land reform while Simbulan talked about land reform and national sovereignty. (Their speech papers are linked to this article.)

Other speakers during the PLRM launching were: RodB Guzman of IBON Foundation; Dean Roland Tolentino; former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo; and former Gabriela Partylist Rep. Liza Maza.

PLRM was launched one year after the end of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) which was declared a centrepiece of the Corazon Aquino administration in 1987 and extended a number of times. Peasant groups called CARP a total failure and are calling for the enactment into law of their proposed Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill. CenPEG.news

PLRM-LAUNCH-audience
(PLRM LAUNCH audience): New land reform movement launched (CenPEG photo)

BOBBY TUAZON: Feudalism and land reform (CenPEG photo)

ANG TUNAY NA PAGLAYA AY NASA KAMAY NG URING MAGSASAKA
(Tungkol sa paksang Piyudalismo at Reporma sa Lupa
ng PLRM, Mayo 28, 2015)
Bobby M. Tuazon
Director for Policy Studies
Center for People Empowerment in Governance (CenPEG)
www.cenpeg.org

Ang usapin ng lupa ay laging nasa sinapupunan ng mga makasaysayang pakikibaka ng sambayanan sapul pa ng panahon ng kolonyalismo – mula sa mga mumunting pag-aalsa, hanggang sa mga paghihimagsik, hanggang sa unang rebolusyon sa Asya noong 1896...

ROLAND SIMBULAN: Feudalism and national sovereignty (CenPEG photo)

LAND REFORM AND NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY/ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE
Professor Roland G. Simbulan
University of the Philippines;

Vice-Chairman, CenPEG Board
( Address on the occasion of the launching of the Philippine Land Reform Movement, Bulwagang Tandang Sora, CSWCD, U.P. Diliman, May 28, 2015)

It is an honor to address and be part of the launching of the Philippine Land Reform Movement.

Ang mga okasyon tulad nito, ay okasyon para pasalamatan natin ang ating mga magsasaka at bigyan ng pagpupugay ang kanilang makulay na pakikibaka hindi lamang para sa mga isyung agrikultural...