PNFSP launch book documenting land grabbing cases in the Philippines

Quezon City – A network of food security advocates gathered today May 17, 2017 at a restaurant in Quezon City to witness the book launching of “Land Grabbing Cases in the Philippines: Greed, Hunger and Resistance” organized by the Philippine Network of Food Security Programmes (PNFSP). It was attended by individuals coming from different NGOs from the regions, international CSOs, academe, media and government officials.

The book was first in the history documenting cases of land grabbing and its impact on food security at the household and community levels. It shows how agricultu

ral lands and natural resources are being monopolized by multinational and transnational corporations and local ruling class with detrimental effects on the lives and livelihood of the farmers and indigenous peoples in the rural communities.

“Most of the books produced are about land grabbing cases in other parts of Asia, of how landlords and corporations stole land from peasant farmers in other countries; our book discusses local case studies comprehensively,” said Sharlene Lopez, Executive Director and the author of the book.

The contents of the book are the results of a research undertaken by PNFSP from June to August 2015 together with some of its members – Integrated Development Program for Indigenous Peoples – Southern Tagalog (IDPIP-ST), Central Visayas Farmers Development Center (FARDEC), Dagsaw Panay Guimaras IP Network (DAGSAW PGIPNET), and Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation (MISFI). There were also contributory articles provided by the Women’s Resource Center in VIsayas (WRCV), Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural Livelihood Development (ALCADEV) and Center for Lumad Advocacy and Services (CLANS).

Aside from examining the effects on food security, the book also documented the various forms of human rights violations that are employed by landlords and land grabbers in order to evict the farmers and indigenous peoples from their land and homes. The various forms of people’s struggles were presented.

The activity concluded with wine toasting ceremony to symbolize the success of the event. ###