Land and Resource Use in the Philippines

“Land Grabbing” by Foreign Investors in Developing Countries: Risks and Opportunities (2009)

One of the lingering effects of the food price crisis of 2007–08 on the world food system is the proliferating acquisition of farmland in developing countries by other countries seeking to ensure their food supplies. Increased pressures on natural resources, water scarcity, export restrictions imposed by major producers when food prices were high, and growing distrust in the functioning of regional and global markets have pushed countries short in land and water to find alternative means of producing food. These…

Land grab or development opportunity? (2009)

Over the past 12 months, large-scale acquisitions of farmland in Africa, Latin America, Central Asia and Southeast Asia have made headlines in a flurry of media reports across the world. Lands that only a short time ago seemed of little outside interest are now being sought by international investors to the tune of hundreds of thousands of hectares. And while a failed attempt to lease 1.3 million ha in Madagascar has attracted much media attention, deals reported in the international…

‘Land grabs’ in Africa: can the deals work for development? (2009)

For many millions in the developing world, land is central to livelihoods, food security, even identity – the result of a direct dependence on agriculture and natural resources. It is not surprising, then, that a recent wave of large-scale land acquisitions in poorer countries has sparked a major debate. Through these acquisitions, interests in richer countries are buying or leasing large tracts of farmland for agricultural investment in Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. With some…

Indigenous peoples and non-ferrous metals mining in the Philippines (2005)

The Philippines is a developing country well endowed with mineral resources. In recent years, the government has made substantial efforts to encourage the exploitation of these resources. This mining-based development paradigm has come into conflict with the indigenous peoples of this nation. This conflict has entailed disputes between the mining industry and indigenous peoples about the validity of the Philippines indigenous peoples rights legislation and alleged human rights abuses on the behalf of the mining industry. The Philippines strong civil…

In Violence as in Peace: Violent Conflict and Rural Entrepreneurship in the Philippines (2011)

Using case studies of entrepreneurship in two rural barangays in Central Visayas in the Philippines, this paper argues that conflict has little impact on the decision to start or continue entrepreneurial activities when it is many people’s only risk-coping strategy. Conflict does, however, impact on the investment or expansion decision of an entrepreneur. The context of the conflict determines how entrepreneurs are affected by the conflict and this, in turn, determines how they will correspondingly behave. Author: Michael P. Cañares Published…

How not to think of land-grabbing: three critiques of large-scale investments in farmland (2011)

Large-scale investments in farmland have been criticized, chiefly, because of questions about the capacity of the countries targeted by these land deals to effectively manage these investments in order to ensure that they contribute to rural development and poverty alleviation. This article questions the idea that this is the only or even the main problem raised by such investments. If weak governance were the only problem, then appropriate regulation—and incentives to manage such investments correctly—would indeed be a solution. However…

GLOBALIZATION AND NATION-BUILDING IN THE PHILIPPINES: State Predicaments in Managing Society in the Midst of Diversity

When the Philippines acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995, the country demonstrated its determination to face the challenges of globalization.Recognizing that globalization is the buzzword of the 21st century and inevitably affects the growth and governance of many nation states, the Philippines bravely entered the WTO to prepare itself for global competitiveness and reap the benefits that globalization may bring.Despite its great optimism on joining the WTO, the Philippines is still lagging behind its Southeast Asian neighbors…

Globalisation and the foreignisation of space: seven processes driving the current global land grab (2010)

tThe current global land grab is causing radical changes in the use and ownership of land. The main process driving the land grab, or ‘foreignisation of space’, as highlighted in the media and the emerging literature is the production of food and biofuel for export in the aftermath of recent food and energy crises. However, there are several other processes driving the land rush. In this article I argue that an analytical framework that focuses on only one or two…

From Land Grab to Win-Win (2009)

Foreign acquisitions of farmland in Africa and elsewhere have become the focus of concern. Many observers consider them a new form of colonialism that threatens food security of the poor. However, investments could be good news if the objectives of land purchasers are reconciled with the investment needs of developing countries. Published by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2009)

Community Mapping, Natural Resources and Indigenous People Movement in Indonesia (2004)

Introduction : A Continuous Denial to the Community Rights! Community right of the land and its natural resources is one of inheritance rights gotten from a long social process, often named as A Prima Facie. The right is not given by state, so that to accommodate the rights, state requires to confess the Community right of the land and its natural resources. The biggest problem relating to this Community right in Indonesia this time is, that there is too much…

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