A three-part series of electoral forums with Philippine senatorial, vice-presidential and presidential candidates was organized last 6, 13 and 20 April, respectively, in Manila, to provide a venue for dialogue between candidates and civil society on rural development issues. The forums sought to raise awareness on the importance of land rights and rural development – so that these become priority agenda for the country’s next set of government leaders.

During the forums, the various candidates disclosed their platforms and positions on rural development concerns such as agrarian reform, encroachment of indigenous people’s ancestral lands, sustainable agriculture, large-scale mining, archipelagic delineation of municipal waters, support for agriculture and food security, foreign ownership of lands, land grabbing, conversion and more.

Around 15 to 20 Rural organizations from the farmers, indigenous peoples, rural women, fisherfolk and mining-affected communities raised these critical issues to the candidates themselves.

These forums, drawing more than 100 delegates from civil society groups, religious organizations, political parties and media, were jointly organized by the Catholic Media Network (CMN) and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) in cooperation with ANGOC and Land Watch Philippines (LWP).
Participating candidates were as follows:

Presidential Forum, April 20 – JC delos Reyes, Richard Gordon, Nicanor Perlas, Eddie Villanueva
Vice-presidential Forum, April 13 – Jun Chipeco, Bayani Fernando, Loren Legarda, Jay Sonza, Jun Yasay
Senatorial Forum, April 6 - Martin Bautista, Rizalito David, Jose de Venecia III, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, Jo Imbong, Adz Habib Nikabulin, Ramon Ocampo, Satur Ocampo, Susan Ople, Gwen Pimentel, Grace Plazo, Rodolfo Plaza, Adrian Sison, Adel Tamano, Reginald Tamayo, Kit Tatad,  and Israel Virgines

The proceedings for the forums are available:
Presidential Forum, 20 April
Vice-Presidential Forum, 13 April
Senatorial Forum, 6 April