When big business and farmers’ interest collide: A discussion of the drivers and effects of farmland conversion in the Province of Bulacan, Philippines

Bulacan is described as the “Gateway to the North,” being the province that first greets travelers as they move past the northern tip of Metro Manila.  Responding to the demand for decent dwellings away from congested cities, and to the push of population growth, Bulacan has been a haven for real estate, commercial, and infrastructure development. This development, however, comes at the expense of farms and ricelands, and has negatively affected the farmers that rely on agriculture for their livelihood. 

Bulacan epitomizes the persistence of unsustainable agricultural and riceland land conversion in the country and how these affect overall tenure and food security.

This study therefore aims to contribute to identifying solutions for the financial sector to stem the tide of land use conversion of ricelands in Bulacan province, Central Luzon, Philippines. It tackles the prevalence and effects of land use conversion to the local rice industry and to smallholder farmers; analyzes policy conditions that led to the unabated rise of the conversion of ricelands in Bulacan; and, recommends actions to address the issues identified.

The conduct of this study was supported by Fair Finance Asia, as facilitated by Initiatives for Dialogue & Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS, Inc.). Read more articles like this here.