LAND has always had a certain mystique in the Philippines. It has been valued more than what it is really worth. It has been the cause of murders as the recent one of Ka Rene Peñas of the Sumilao farmers. It has been the cause of quarrels and family breakups. When it concerns land irrational reactions are normal. Wishing it were not so does not help. Looking at the big picture Mr. Soros, the financial wizard, points out that little or no new areas of land can be recovered from forests. On the other hand world population is growing. Land is also being lost to the expansion of deserts like in China near Beijing. The cause seems to be over grazing by goats and sheep. These animals cut the grass very close to the soil, the grass do not get a chance to regenerate enough before it is cut again. Without the grass the soil dries up into desert sand. Big transnational corporations are acquiring large tracts of land where they can still be found. Dams and irrigation are recovering some land in the Sudan. Once the Land is also being lost to the expansion of deserts like in China near Beijing. The cause seems to be over grazing by goats and sheep. These animals cut the grass very close to the soil, the grass do not get a chance to regenerate enough before it is cut again. Without the grass the soil dries up into desert sand. Big transnational corporations are acquiring large tracts of land where they can still be found. Dams and irrigation are recovering some land in the Sudan. Once the Adspeace and order is restored in that area, large plantations are planned and expertise is being sourced from the Philippines for bananas.

Agrarian reform or land reform has been a failure in this country. We do not see our farmers having a better life. They are still serfs tied to the land with heavy debts. Some say that the old tenants in Central Luzon are now the absentee land lords with former landless tilling the land. But agrarian reform has been a success in many of our neighbors. Why the difference? One possibility is that our implementers looked only on the land confiscation and distribution. They did not arrange for funds for planting material and fertilizer nor for the funds needed for plowing. Without these other ingredients, the farmers with land were just as subject to loans from informal lenders who now own much of the farmers’ lands. Legally the land could not be sold but of what use was the land for the farmers when they could not plant and did not have anything to eat. Hopefully with the third extension of the agrarian reform law a total package can be given to the farmers to turn them from subsistence farming to yeomen who can support their families in comfort. Exempting rice from globalization restrictions was the right thing. Looking
back the other subsistence crops like corn, sugar, and cassava would have fared better had they also been exempted. With present prices these farmers are not doing too badly but they are not what they could be if they had been exempted.

Talking of land, a young Suluanon, was telling us that if the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu would only get together they could probably sell their land in Borneo or get better rental since they are still the owners of the land. Although the Sultan leased it, the present rental is ridiculous in any court of law. But the heirs have to come as one to get their rights respected. This according to the proponent might need assistance from government or some social entity. There is no reason why the people of the Sultan of Sulu are hungry and working as servants in other countries. <emeterio_barcelon@yahoo.com>