FARMERS from Bukidnon, backed by advocacy groups, confronted the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) yesterday (August 14), over more than three decades of delays in issuing their Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).

The Don Carlos Bukidnon United Farmers Association, Inc. (DCBUFAI), supported by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), Sanlakas, and Makabayan Pilipinas, engaged in a dialogue at DAR’s Central Office, seeking accountability and expedited action on their petition.

The farmers’ frustrations contrast sharply with President Bongbong Marcos Jr’s recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he touted the distribution of over 130,000 land titles and the resolution of 700,000 cases in the past two years.

For the Bukidnon farmers, however, the promises of land reform remain unfulfilled.

The DCBUFAI, originally formed as the Bukidnon Farmers Association in 1982, has been striving for recognition as beneficiaries of the land they have cultivated since 1986. Despite a national dialogue 2012 that set a deadline for revalidation in early 2013, no significant progress has been made.

The group has faced harassment and threats from parties with vested interests in the land, further complicating their struggle.

DCBUFAI President Jovencio Destor Jr. emphasized the urgency of awarding the CLOAs, particularly for the descendants of deceased members who continue to farm the land.

The meeting, which included key DAR officials from Central and field offices, focused on revalidating agrarian reform beneficiaries in Don Carlos, Bukidnon—a process stalled by leadership changes and security concerns.

PMCJ National Coordinator Ian Rivera highlighted the intersection of agrarian and climate justice, criticizing elite interests that displace farmers while exacerbating the climate crisis.

Rivera urged the government to fulfill its promises, stressing that land reform is crucial for the survival of the poor and vulnerable amid escalating climate challenges.

The dialogue concluded with commitments to better coordination between DAR, regional offices, and security forces to ensure justice for DCBUFAI members.

The farmers and their supporters vowed to remain vigilant, pushing for the creation of a national task force to expedite the land distribution process by 2024. (PMCJ)