[ Manila Bulletin Online ] October 12, 2008
Thousands of farmers working in the 8,650.70-hectare Hacienda Looc in Nasugbu, Batangas and Cavite have demanded the distribution of the land to them, saying they are not suitable for the planned Fil-Estate golf course and residential community.
The farmers, all of them members of Umalpas-Ka, an affiliate of the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid-Timog Katagulagan (KasamaTK), said the area, which covers Barangays Calayo, Papaya, Looc, and Bulihan in Nasugbu, is flat land and a valley that has been determined to be highly suitable for agriculture by experts from the University of the Philippines in Los Baños in Los Baños, Laguna.
A total of 602 hectares of the estate is under the jurisdiction of Cavite.
Umalpas-Ka members said more than 10,000 farmers and fishermen live by and survive on the natural riches of Hacienda Looc. The farmlands are planted with rice, vegetables, fruit trees, and root crops.
The farmers said 831 of them had been granted Emancipation Patents (EPs) under Presidential Decree No. 27 while 1,301 were given Certificates of Landownership Awards (CLOAs).