With the Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s agenda on agrarian reform, 21 government and CSO Indonesian delegates (13 from Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, and 8 from CSOs from KPA including a representative from Samdhana Institute) visited the Philippines on 9-15 February 2016 to learn the Philippines’ experiences in formulating and implementing its agrarian law and reform.

Hosted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and facilitated by the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), the learning visit started with delegates meeting with the DAR Team headed by Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes on the orientation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) and status of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Meetings as well with the Land Registration Authority (LRA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) were organized to discuss land administration concerns. The delegates had a meeting with the Congressional Committee Chairman on Agrarian Reform, Representative Teddy Baguilat, Jr. regarding the legislative processes and the overlapping tenurial arrangements between CARL and the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

On the other hand, Philippine CSOs including ANGOC, Philippine Association for Intercultural Development (PAFID), (National Confederation of Small Farmers’ and Fishers’ Organizations (PAKISAMA), Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) and Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center (LRC) shared their perspectives on the challenges and lessons learned in implementing asset reform programs in the country. On-site exposures were also conducted with DAR regional and provincial offices and farmer beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao.

Both countries agreed to continue this learning exchange process.