The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said Friday they are looking into large-scale buying of land by foreigners in different parts of the country.
A Catholic bishop this week had urged the national government to investigate foreigners who are allegedly buying lands in Taytay, Palawan.
“We are looking at other similar incidents. These are happening not just in Palawan, but in Nueva Ecija and other provinces, especially rice-producing areas. They don’t just buy lands. Initially, they rent farmlands,” according to PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz.
He said that foreigners would rent plots of farmland for around P80,000 to 100,000 per hectare and could dictate what to plant, thereby threatening the country’s food security
“If you are an ordinary farmer, this is attractive because it’s a sure profit. But foreigners could control what they plant there. If they rent all our rice fields, they can control the price of rice. They could control our food security.)produce ng bigas natin,” he said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo. Cruz said the Palace’s anti-crime body will coordinate with the agriculture and interior departments on the issue.
The Philippine Constitution limits the ownership of private lands to Filipinos or corporations in which Filipinos own at least 60 percent of the capital stock.
