Philippines: Unjust reclassification of land threatens the access to land and food of 312 farmers in Baha and Talibayog, Calatagan Municipality, Batangas Province

During 1989 -1990, 818 land titles were issued to 317 tenants in Baha and Talibayog, covering a total of 507 hectares. While the tenants were tilling the land, the former landowner sold the land in 1995 to a mining company, which was given a mining permission for an area, including the land in concern. As a result, the land was reclassified from agricultural to mineral, and the same government agency which distributed the land to the tenants has cancelled the earlier land titles. The right to food of the farmers is threatened as they may face eviction and loss of land.