National Land Coalition PH

11/08/2026

The National Land Coalition Philippines (NLC Ph), in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), gathered more than 100 participants, both onsite and online from civil society organizations, the academe, DENR regional and provincial offices, other government agencies, and the House of Representatives to validate and discuss the findings of the research “Entangled Forests: Women’s Climate Action in the Brazilian Amazon and the Philippines.”

Led by the Natural Resources Institute - University of Greenwich with NLC Ph through the Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas and supported by The British Academy, the Philippine study examined the experiences of women across diverse landscapes and environmental challenges: mining and watershed conservation in Dinagat Islands; government-led infrastructure projects and forest protection in the Sierra Madre communities of Rizal and Quezon; land rights, sustainable agriculture, and climate change among farming communities in Negros Occidental. Across these different landscapes, the research highlights the critical yet often unseen roles of Women Environmental Defenders (WEDs) in protecting land, forests, biodiversity, livelihoods, and communities.

The dialogue generated positive responses and recommendations to strengthen the protection, participation, and leadership of WEDs; ensure meaningful community participation and consent in development projects; recognize women’s and Indigenous knowledge; and establish sustained mechanisms for dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders. We welcome DENR’s commitment to continue engaging with NLC Ph and WEDs and to explore how the study’s findings and recommendations can contribute to policies, programs, and future collaboration.

The activity was co-funded by Rainforest Trust and the International Land Coalition Asia, creating an important space to bring the voices and lived experiences of women from diverse landscapes closer to policy and decision-making.

Asian Farmers' Association
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - ANGOC
KAISAHAN
NTFP - EP Asia
PAFID, Inc.
Pakisama (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka)
Task Force Mapalad Nat'l
Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.
Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau - WLB
Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (NAGSAKKA)

05/08/2026

On July 28 and 29, 2026, Women Environmental Defenders (WED), local researchers, and members of the National Land Coalition Philippines (NLC Ph) came together to reflect on their field experiences, validate initial findings, and learn from one another through the WED Research Reflection and Learning Workshop.

Implemented by NLC Ph through Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas in partnership with the Natural Resources Institute - University of Greenwich with the support of The British Academy, the Entangled Forests: Women's Climate Action in the Brazilian Amazon and the Philippines research documents the experiences, challenges, and contributions of women environmental defenders across four landscapes in the Philippines - from important watersheds threatened by mining in the Dinagat Islands, Indigenous communities affected by infrastructure projects in the Sierra Madre, farming communities facing climate change, to advocates for a just energy transition in Negros Island.

Beyond generating research, the workshop created a space to connect stories across communities, strengthen gender-responsive approaches, and identify actions that can better support women defending our forests, watersheds, coastal areas, and ancestral lands.

Women Environmental Defenders are at the forefront of protecting our land, natural resources, and the rights of communities. Their work is essential to achieving access to land, biodiversity conservation, climate justice, and sustainable development. We hope that through this research, we can continue working toward a future where their contributions are recognized, their rights are protected, and their work is made safer, more empowering, and fully supported.

We would also like to thank the International Land Coalition Asia and the Rainforest Trust for co-funding this workshop.

Asian Farmers' Association
Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - ANGOC
KAISAHAN
NTFP - EP Asia
PAFID, Inc.
Pakisama (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka)
Task Force Mapalad Nat'l
Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.
Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau - WLB
Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (NAGSAKKA)

21/07/2026

19/07/2026

Safeguarding Agrarian Reform Gains: Addressing Land Conversion, Agribusiness Pressures, and Promoting Sustainable Land Investments

Thirty-eight years after the enactment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), agrarian reform remains both a remarkable achievement and an unfinished promise. While millions of hectares have been distributed to farmer-beneficiaries, the long-term gains of agrarian reform continue to face new and evolving challenges. Land conversion, agribusiness pressures, administrative delays, and competing development priorities increasingly threaten agricultural lands intended to provide security and dignity for farming communities.

Recognizing these realities, the 38th CARP Anniversary Policy Forum brought together representatives from government agencies, farmers' organizations, civil society organizations, local government units, and development partners to engage in a constructive dialogue on how to better safeguard agrarian reform gains. The forum served as a venue to examine emerging policy and governance issues, share evidence from communities on the ground, and identify concrete policy directions that promote sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient land governance.

One important message resonated throughout the discussions: the challenge today is no longer simply about distributing land, it is about protecting the gains already achieved. The experiences presented during the forum showed how prolonged administrative delays, weak enforcement against illegal land conversion, conflicting government decisions, and increasing development pressures continue to undermine agrarian reform and place farmers' rights, food security, and rural livelihoods at risk.

Participants also emphasized that addressing these challenges requires stronger collaboration among agencies responsible for agrarian reform, agriculture, land use planning, energy, local governance, and environmental protection. Safeguarding agricultural lands cannot be the responsibility of one institution alone, it demands coordinated policies, transparent governance, and meaningful participation of farmers and other stakeholders.

As we commemorate the 38th anniversary of CARP this year, we celebrate the millions of farmers whose lives have been transformed through secure land rights. At the same time, we renew our collective commitment to complete the unfinished promise of agrarian reform by ensuring that agricultural lands remain productive, protected, and capable of sustaining present and future generations.

The forum held on July 6, 2026, in Alino Hotel, Quezon City was jointly organized by the National Land Coalition Philippines (NLC-Ph), the Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas (CARRD), the National Anti-Poverty Commission – Farmers and Landless Rural Workers Sectoral Council (NAPC-Farmers SC), and the Land Justice Initiative (LJI) implemented by KAISAHAN tungo sa Kaunlaran ng Kanayunan at Repormang Pansakahan and Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - ANGOCA. It was made possible through the support of the International Land Coalition Asia (ILC), Misereor, and the European Union in the Philippines.

27/04/2026

One of the key initiatives under the Rainforest Trust Rapid Feasibility Award (RFA) is a biodiversity assessment of key endemic and critically endangered species in the remaining forest patches in the Southwestern Negros Key Biodiversity Area. This effort provides essential baseline information to support future conservation actions and the protection of critical habitats.

Thank you to the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PBCFI)for leading this important initiative.

International Land Coalition Asia Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas PAFID, Inc. KAISAHAN Task Force Mapalad Nat'l

22/04/2026

The Land and Resource Rights Working Group of the National Land Coalition Philippines met yesterday with Congressman Chel Diokno at his office in the House of Representatives.

The meeting provided an opportunity for coalition members to share their community-led initiatives and ongoing efforts to engage national policy processes that defend, secure, and protect the land and resource rights of smallholder farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Members also discussed key policy issues and challenges in implementing agrarian reform that require stronger legislative support.

This meeting marks the beginning of continued dialogue and collaboration on policy and legislative initiatives to strengthen support for smallholder farmers and agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - ANGOC
Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas
KAISAHAN
Pakisama (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka)
Task Force Mapalad Inc.
International Land Coalition Asia

22/04/2026

31/03/2026

National Land Coalition Philippines Statement on the Unnumbered DAR Administrative Order Removing DAR Clearance on Land Transactions of Private Agricultural Lands and Transfers of Awarded Lands under RA 6657, as Amended.

International Land Coalition Asia, Department of Agrarian Reform, Philippines, Asian Farmers' Association, Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - ANGOC, Center for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development - Pilipinas, KAISAHAN, Pakisama (Pambansang Kilusan ng mga Samahang Magsasaka), Task Force Mapalad Inc., Task Force Mapalad Nat'l Xavier Science Foundation, Inc.

31/03/2026