After over 70 years of cultivating the land and staying in the community, the members of the Portico Banasi Household Farmers Association (PORBAHFA) and other residents are facing threats of eviction and worries about their livelihood.

This is the second part of the two-part exclusive report of Bulatlat on farmers’ struggle for land dispute in Bula, Camarines Sur.

BULA, Camarines Sur – “We are looking for those who can help us.”

PORBAHFA Acting President Eduardo Baliber, 67, said their group needs stronger support from its members and community to overcome the personal and collective challenges in retaining their lands  in their barangays in Bula, Camarines Sur.

Baliber’s family is among the 186 settlers from barangays Pawili and Fabrica that will be affected by the demolition due to the land dispute (Civil Case No. P-2090) between Conrado Colarina and the Ruby Shelters Builders and Development Corporation (RSBDC) through its President Ruben Sia.

Under his father’s name, Cecilio, Baliber regularly pays his tax declaration dues for their 0.8736 hectares of agricultural land in Brgy. Fabrica. On January 19, he paid the real property tax, amounting to P711.50 ($12.04) at  the Bula Office of the Municipal Treasurer.

“We really need to unite to become stronger so as not to be evicted. We have lived there for a long time. My parents, my children and cousins are residing in Brgy. Fabrica,” Baliber said.

After over 70 years of cultivating the land and staying in the community, the members of the Portico Banasi Household Farmers Association (PORBAHFA) and other residents are facing threats of eviction and worries about their livelihood.

READ: Camarines Sur farmers resist outsiders’ land ownership claims

PORBAHFA, formed in 2015, is helping its members to seek support from government agencies and other groups despite financial constraints on travel expenses and accomplishing legal documents.

“We thought of forming an organization since we all live here and are being sued by Colarina,” said Joy Baita, the group’s secretary.

“Being involved in the organization is important. It is important to me since it helps us to develop our farm. The government provides, even if it’s small, but it also helps us,” Baliber said. According to him, they need more support to face their legal battle for their homes, lives, and livelihood.

“If we lose there, there’s really nothing left for us,” added Baliber, who has rice fields planted with palay, corn and vegetables.

Continue to Fight: PORBAHFA Acting President Baliber monitors and supports its members in their local campaign. (Photo By Reynard Magtoto/Bulatlat)

Woes, demands

According to Esmundo Balager, 58, the incident was heartbreaking since they spent many years cultivating the land.

“We actually cultivated the land there when it was still a place with wild sugarcane,” Balager said. “In past years, Colarina has claimed the land. What are they doing there and why are they selling the land? They are not even residents here.”

“Now the situation of our land is better, they are now claiming the land. I hope they don’t take our land,” said Baita.

Sixty-four-year-old farmer Emily Teresita Ibasco shared how their family built their home in Sitio Portico, Brgy. Fabrica in 1968.

“When I was young, I used to sell goods to earn money just to build my house little by little. I incurred loans just to build my house,” said Ibasco. It took several years for her to transform her nipa hut to its current state that is half concrete.

Anxious of the possibility of eviction, she asked, ““How do we start again?”

“Even now our income [in agriculture] is low because of the expensive fertilizers, high inputs and pests. Our palay was bought cheaply,” Ibasco said.

Brgy. Pawili Councilor Jerly Marmol who tills 8,853 sq. m. of land being claimed by the Tan family knows they are up against influential families.

“What they presented and the land titles must be investigated. We will not allow it to be like that. They suddenly appeared with a title even though they did not live here. Not even one of them,” Marmol said, adding that they were not notified when the Tans and Coralinas filed legal cases.

Claiming the Land: Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol provides assistance to affected farmers and members of the local peasant group in Bula, Camarines Sur. (Photo By Reynard Magtoto/Bulatlat)

Pushback

According to Kilusang Magbubukid ng Bicol (KMB), there are many land issues in the Bicol region that need to be discussed and resolved.

“Currently, there is still no certainty in the ownership and development of the lands they farm and are facing the brink of demolition, intimidation and civil cases against the farmers,” said KMB Spokesperson Regina Barbacena.

On October 1 last year, PORBAHFA joined KMB in a picket dialogue at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Bicol Office in Rawis, Legazpi City.

They aimed to clarify issues on land use conversions and demolitions raised by farmers across the provinces of the Bicol region. KMB questioned the National Land Use Act (NaLUA) or HB8162 and the 99 year lease act for foreigners.

The group needs to generate enough funds, around P300,000 (5098.4 USD), to file their petition against the Colarina and Tan family at the Regional Trial Court in Pili, Camarines Sur.

According to KMB, the farmers identified the landlords and bureaucrats in Camarines Sur, Albay at Sorsogon such as the Madrigal-Marcos-Romualdez, Alsua-Mitra, Asistio, Lubiano-Escudero, Pajardo, Buenaflor, Ibasco and Tan.

“The Bicolano farmers are united in the struggle for land and justice, together with the broad Filipino people. The land will be reclaimed from the landlords, capitalist bureaucrats and their accomplices, large local and foreign corporations,” KMB said.

“It’s good that there is an organization helping us, for us not to be evicted from our lands,” said Baliber. “My appeal is that there will be no demolition to happen. They have nowhere to go.” (RTS, RVO)

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