Biyayang Bukid

The Philippines has long been saddled by a lopsided socio-economic structure where only less than 300 families control almost 90% of the country's wealth while the rest - more than 90 million Filipinos make do with the pittance 10%. It is not surprising then, that while the rich wallow in excessive wealth most of our countrymen suffer in extreme poverty.

To narrow the wealth gap if not totally eliminate it, and spur economic growth that would benefit most filipinos, Biyayang Bukid shall promote to develop a strong and stable Agricultural base to support the country as it builds other industries and to address the problem, Biyayang Bukid shall work for systemic (legal and social) reforms on property ownership and natural resource exploitation by advocating the implementation of a genuine Agrarian Reform as its top priority program. Biyayang Bukid believes that a successful redistribution of unencumbered productive lands to farmers to make the economic playing field - income generation and wealth distribution - accessible and equitable to all.

Biyayang Bukid believes that the Philippines could achieve economic prosperity amidst a global open market.

To achieve this two-pronged objective, the priority program shall be Agrarian reform. Agrarian reform will spread ownership of productive goods and income more widely and equitably and increase agricultural production and the purchasing power of the farming masses to enable them to buy the products and services of industry and commerce. This will bring about a strongly based industrial and commercial development.

Agricultural, industry, and commerce shall help each other - agricultural providing a big local market for industrial products and raw materials for industrial undertakings, for agricultural crops, supplying farm tools and inputs, and absorbing the excess manpower from the farms; and commerce stimulating and facilitating the exchange of products and services between two and between them and itself.

Self - employment shall be promoted and assisted, particularly in the form of owner cultivatorship among the farmers, and owner operation of small-scale enterprises like shops, market stalls, metal works, tricycles, jeepneys and taxicabs, etc.

For those who have to be employed by others, their trade union rights as well as their right to just terms and conditions of work shall be protected; and profit-sharing as well as sharing in the ownership of equity of the enterprise in which their work shall be fostered.

Urban land reform shall be undertaken, including the provision of better and affordable housing for the urban poor and the uncontrolled migration to the cities and highly urbanized towns shall be discouraged by agrarian reforms and improved living and working conditions of people in the countryside.

Natural resources and environment shall continuously be protected and enhanced by such measures as the conservation expansion of forest growth; propagation of family-size farms, (restoration and protection of mangroves, corals and other marine resources,) planting of trees and plants in every available and appropriate area, proper waste disposal and recycling, strict regulation of mining operations, promotion of the use of environmental-friendly energy, farm inputs, cleansing agents, etc.