The Agrarian Reform Programs in the Philippines

To further improve the situation regarding the quality of life of farmers and farm workers in the Philippines, where there is an envisioned community to help the rural areas and cultivate a sound development and industrilization, the agrarian reform programs are a necessary goal in order to achieve national development. There is even a comprehensive agrarian reform law that was passed on the year 1988 which shows detailed policies that the Philippine state should pursue to stabilize the and create a more equitable distribution with regards to the ownership of land, highlighting the need for farmers and farm workers to own directly or collectively the land that they till. One can only imagine the scope of these policies and the effort of legislative bodies and even notable representatives of these farmers to create a more responsible and nationally sound agrarian program here in the Philippines.

One of the best ways to fully promote and implement such policies here in the Philippines is by having an organization that targets small non government and people’s organization to help in the reform effort. With these objectives in mind, the Philippine Agrarian Reform Foundation for National Development or PARFUND wasestablished in 1993 and is still a frontrunner in having various agrarian reform programs funded and totally support many farmers and farm workers in rural and efficient managing of their land. Such efforts from PARFUND range from helping voice the grassroots level of people in the rural area to finding ways to help those other poor rural farmers and their children support in education and agriculture based livelihood.

Here are several programs that the PARFUND develops in implements in a lot of rural areas in the Philippines:

Land Rights Advocate Program

There is no question that the agrarian reform program has encountered some bumps in the road, especially from past to present cases where landlords do not grant or entitle the rights of farmers to gain possession of land; there are even cases where uses of force and legal battles are thrown in the fray. Having a land right advocate program awards land titles to farmers and is still being implemented to this day.

Rural, Social Welfare Support Program

Being a third world country, the Philippines is experiencing a myriad of social problems not only in term of ther agrarian reform but also in social welfare. The PARFUND not only takes note of issues with those farmers and their families but also the basic and pressing concerns of their families who are in dire situations. This program will help in the educational and social

development of their children and community as well.

Consituency Building and Fund Raising

When it comes to land reform, there is also a need for funding and helping unite those farmers in rural areas to voice out their needs, concerns, and acquisition of funding. The constituency buidling and fund raising enables them to have groups and assemblies and also have the opportuity to raise funds through agricultural projects.

Knowledge Management

No single case or situation of a farmer is isolated, so there is a need for a database or information center that can help address other issues arising from agrarian reform. Rural development and land issues are collected for use and review.