Philippines, 2009

When people start with so little, the insecurity of not owning land puts them at risk for lifelong poverty. That’s the first task an Outreach International facilitator tackled when she began work with 125 families in the village of Sibug, Philippines. 

When Liezl, a young Filipino leader hired by Outreach International, began working in an impoverished village in the Philippines on the edge of lush farmlands and pastures, she couldn’t wait to help residents tackle their most pressing issues.

But her excitement was tempered when she met Ana, a 24-year old mother of five. “Others have come and promised things here before,” she told Liezl. “Can you just give us money, or my husband a job?”

Ana’s husband was a tenant farm worker, paid only 20% of the harvest twice a year not enough to feed his family. So he became an illegal logger, hiding from police, gone for months, and earning too little. So little that his children had to choose between food or school. “It breaks my heart,” said the young mother.

That was the opening Liezl needed.

The first step: Talk

“I encouraged her to meet with others. It was hard to leave her children, but she wanted to try,” Liezl said.

Liezl says, “The land issue project is the most important and the toughest issue I ever facilitated. But also, the most rewarding.”
 
Outreach International’s first step is to mobilize residents to talk together. So in village meetings, they talked about farmwork that didn’t pay enough; logging that was illegal and dangerous. The conclusion: they could not survive until they could own and farm their own land.

“Why can’t you own land?”

Liezl asked. Really, she knew. As a Filipino, she was aware of the unjust land use system. As they researched the issues, the complications unfolded: the land was controlled by wealthy families with little government regulation. The land leases could be renewed forever by bribing authorities. “It seemed hopeless,” said Liezl. “They felt they were too few, too small to be heard. But the impossibility made them bolder.”

Strength in numbers

They joined four other groups representing 125 households. They petitioned the Environment Offices for months with no success.

With more research, they learned that many farmers had exceeded the 10-year lease limit. Now, they knew they had found their way in! They approached the regional environment officer who was so impressed with their work, he issued a new land-use policy. The group received 2,000 acres of land.

“The next day, we traveled there,” Liezl says. “We had a ceremonial launching and began planting. But within a week, we were ordered to vacate. An influential rancher related to the Vice President of the Philippines had stopped the process.”

Another way through

The group went home, despondent; Ana returned to her life of insecurity. But Liezl encouraged them to find another way through.

For months, they appealed to the Mayor and Provincial Governor, who finally found available land. Did they dare trust this? “Yes,” grinned Liezl.  Seventy-five residents received homelot titles for 400 acres of land.

Now Ana and her husband work side-by-side on their own land. They harvest enough to feed their children and send them ALL to school. Their success spread to five other communities and 514 families. The government was exposed to unjust laws that had impoverished thousands. Liezl says, “The land issue project is the most important and the toughest issue I ever facilitated. But also, the most rewarding.”

The process works

Outreach International has found this the best method for implementing lasting change: Employ local staff. Address deep-rooted issues through group action. Apply outside learning. Help people create their own identity. In this way, good is sustainable, because the good is within the people themselves.

Life is no longer insecure in the village of Sibug. It’s good. And it will stay that way.