Land of the Lost: Farmers Slam Marcos Jr.’s 99-Year Land Lease and Forestry Deals as Sellout of Philippine Sovereignty

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

As the nation braces for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), a storm is already brewing—not in the sky, but in the fields and forests of the Philippines.

Rural communities, already battered by decades of landlessness and exclusion, are now facing what many call the most aggressive corporate land grab in recent history. The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) has raised the alarm on the bicameral approval of a bill that would allow foreign entities to lease Philippine land for up to 99 years—a staggering move that critics warn would reduce Filipino farmers to mere spectators in their own homeland.

At the heart of this outrage is the consolidated version of House Bill 10755 and Senate Bill 2898, which amends the Investors' Lease Act (RA 7652). This legislative shift extends the lease period from 75 to 99 years—longer than the average Filipino lifespan. Now awaiting President Marcos Jr.'s signature or veto, this bill is seen by KMP as nothing less than the legalization of long-term land-grabbing dressed up as economic development.

“This is not development. This is betrayal,” said KMP Chairperson Danilo Ramos in a scathing statement. “Marcos Jr. is turning Philippine lands into corporate enclaves. These policies are not about sustainability or investment—they are about selling out our sovereignty to the highest bidder.”

But the 99-year lease is just one part of a twin assault on rural communities.

The Marcos administration is also aggressively rolling out the Sustainable Forest Land Management Program (SFLMP), targeting over 40,000 hectares of forest lands under the guise of reforestation and “green” development. Ramos warns that this initiative, backed by the Foreign Industry Roadmap (FIRM), is yet another scheme designed to displace indigenous peoples and farmers while lining the pockets of corporate giants.

“Don’t be fooled by the green rhetoric. This is legalized land-grabbing in its most dangerous form,” Ramos declared. “They speak of forest rehabilitation, but what they truly mean is corporate extraction hidden behind eco-friendly buzzwords.”

The SFLMP paints a dystopian picture of a future where forest lands—once protected by ancestral domain, cultural ties, and ecological balance—become battlegrounds for profit-driven “eco-industrial” ventures, many of which are bankrolled by foreign investors and powerful political clans.

From Lifeline to Commodity

Once again, the age-old narrative resurfaces: land, the very soul of the Filipino identity, reduced to a commodity. What used to be rice paddies and coconut groves, passed down through generations, are now being reshaped into investment portfolios and speculative assets.

“This is the clearest proof that Marcos Jr. is the chief representative of landlords and oligarchs,” said Ramos. “These policies will evict farmers and indigenous peoples, deepen land monopoly, and annihilate any hope for agrarian justice.”

Business groups, meanwhile, have praised the 99-year lease provision as “game-changing”—a term Ramos rebuked as “an insult to every farmer who has bled for this land.”

“What is truly game-changing is the scale of betrayal we are witnessing. Foreign corporations will be allowed to control our lands for longer than a Filipino’s lifetime,” Ramos said. “Ang ibinibenta ng gobyernong Marcos Jr. ay mga lupaing bumubuhay sa mga Pilipino.”

The Illusion of Progress

The Marcos administration has insisted that such policies are crucial to attracting foreign investment and spurring economic growth. But for those on the ground, this so-called progress is a mirage—one that masks a deeper erosion of democratic access to land and livelihood.

In truth, these policies reek of a familiar formula: marginalize the poor, exalt the powerful, and call it reform.

What’s unfolding isn’t just a policy debate—it’s a seismic battle over who gets to decide the fate of Philippine land. Is it the farmer who tills the soil, the Lumad who guards the forest, the fisherfolk who depend on mangrove ecosystems—or is it the faceless corporate boardrooms thousands of miles away?

A People's Resistance Rises

KMP has vowed to resist. On July 28, during the People’s SONA, they will join broad mobilizations to call for the outright rejection of the 99-year lease bill and the cancellation of the DENR’s forestry investment program.

This isn’t just a protest—it is a declaration of resistance by those who refuse to be erased.

“This land is not for sale. It never was,” said Ramos. “We will not allow our future to be leased away.”

As the president ascends the podium for his SONA, farmers and indigenous peoples will rise from the margins—undaunted, unwavering, and unrelenting in their cry: Land for the tillers, not for the tycoons.

In the end, this is not simply about laws or leases. It is about life—who gets to live with dignity, and who gets pushed to the edge of survival. And if history is any indication, it is in the soil of resistance where true revolution begins.

Trading Safety for CTO: When Government Loses Sight of Its People

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the face of howling winds, torrential rain, and rising floodwaters, one would expect compassion, caution, and common sense from those entrusted with public service. But reality tells a different, far more troubling story.

While much of the country is submerged under the wrath of typhoons and monsoon rains, government agencies are dangling Compensatory Time Off (CTO) like a glittering bait—an incentive for employees to wade through danger, gamble with their lives, and clock in as if all is normal.

It’s not just outrageous. It’s absurd and inhumane.

What does this say about the state of our bureaucracy? When a few measly hours or days of leave become the carrot on a stick to drive workers into flooded streets and landslide-prone roads, it’s not just a misjudgment—it’s a moral failure.

A False Sense of Protection for the Privileged Few

Top-level officials, safe and dry within five-star hotels or air-conditioned government venues, issue memos encouraging attendance. But what about the journey? The commute that turns deadly when rivers overflow, jeepneys disappear, and even emergency services are stretched thin?

Those in power forget that not everyone has the luxury of a chauffeured vehicle. Many government workers are left to fend for themselves, trudging through knee-deep floodwaters just to punch in, all for the promise of a CTO that will likely be used when the weather is sunny and the danger long gone.

Is the Government Keeping Score or Saving Lives?

Let’s be clear: CTO is not a lifeline. It is a loophole—a convenient excuse to keep operations running even if it puts lives at risk. It's the kind of bureaucratic maneuvering that prioritizes appearances over people, protocols over protection.

Has the grind of government service become so mechanized, so blind to human reality, that staff must be bribed to choose duty over safety? Have we become so desensitized that we now equate a few hours off work as equal to the risk of drowning or electrocution in flood-prone cities?

The Real Score: Accountability, Not Attendance

The Philippine government must ask itself: What is the true cost of enforcing presence during a climate disaster? Every time a government worker is forced to report despite life-threatening conditions, the institution not only gambles with that person’s well-being—it loses the moral high ground it claims to hold.

It’s time to stop treating staff as disposable assets in times of crisis. The real measure of good governance is not how many warm bodies show up to work during a storm—it’s how leadership protects its people, especially those without titles, drivers, or corporate safety nets.

A Call for Compassion Over Compliance

This is not just about policy—it’s about humanity. CTO should never be a lure in times of disaster. It should never be a silent ultimatum whispered between the lines of government memos.

To the leaders hiding behind protocols while expecting others to march through chaos: remember, you don’t inspire loyalty by demanding sacrifice—you earn it by showing care.

In times of disaster, safety must always trump service. Compassion must outweigh compliance. And CTO? It should never be worth more than a life.

OpenAI Implements VAT in Philippines: The End of an Era for Filipino AI Users

 

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

"Pati ChatGPT may VAT na din?" – The question that's echoing across Filipino households as artificial intelligence becomes another casualty of tax compliance

The Dawn of a New Reality

The notification arrived quietly, almost apologetically, in OpenAI user inboxes across the Philippines. What seemed like routine corporate correspondence would soon become a watershed moment for thousands of Filipino AI enthusiasts, developers, and businesses who had grown accustomed to accessing cutting-edge technology without the additional burden of local taxation.

Starting August 1, 2025, OpenAI will implement a 12% Value Added Tax (VAT) on all services provided to Filipino users – a move that transforms the landscape of AI accessibility in the archipelago and marks the end of an era where global digital services operated in a relatively tax-free environment for local consumers.

The Bureaucratic Awakening

The letter, bearing the familiar OpenAI logo, reads with the sterile precision of legal compliance: "In compliance with National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended, and Republic Act No. 12023..." These aren't just legal citations – they represent the Philippine government's increasingly sophisticated approach to capturing revenue from the digital economy that has, until now, largely operated beyond traditional tax boundaries.

The implications are stark and immediate. Filipino users face a binary choice: provide a valid VAT identification number (TIN) to maintain their current service rates, or accept the automatic 12% surcharge that will be applied to every transaction. For individuals, this means higher subscription costs. For businesses already operating on thin margins, it could mean reconsidering their AI integration strategies entirely.

Beyond the Numbers: A Cultural Shift

But this development transcends mere tax policy. The collective Filipino response – encapsulated in the plaintive "Pati ChatGPT may VAT na din?" (Even ChatGPT has VAT now?) – reveals something deeper about the nation's relationship with technology and taxation.

For years, digital services existed in a parallel universe where Filipino consumers could access global platforms, tools, and services without the additional layer of local taxation that traditionally accompanied most purchases. This created a unique digital ecosystem where innovation felt democratized, where a student in Quezon City could access the same AI tools as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, paying the same global rates.

That era is now definitively over.

The Ripple Effect Across Industries

The ramifications extend far beyond individual users lamenting higher ChatGPT Plus subscriptions. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the Philippines have increasingly integrated AI tools into their operations – from content creation agencies using GPT for copywriting to customer service companies deploying AI chatbots. The 12% increase represents a significant operational cost adjustment that many hadn't anticipated in their 2025 budgets.

Educational institutions, many of which have embraced AI as a teaching and learning tool, now face difficult decisions about maintaining access to premium AI services. For private schools already struggling with post-pandemic recovery, an additional 12% on AI tools could mean the difference between innovative digital education and reverting to traditional methods.

Freelancers and digital nomads – a growing demographic in the Philippines' gig economy – find themselves caught in a particularly complex situation. Many operate as individuals rather than registered businesses, making VAT ID acquisition a bureaucratic hurdle that could temporarily or permanently price them out of premium AI services.

The Government's Digital Revenue Strategy

From the Bureau of Internal Revenue's perspective, this represents a significant victory in their ongoing campaign to capture tax revenue from the digital economy. The implementation of Republic Act No. 12023 signals a more aggressive approach to taxing digital services, following global trends where governments seek to ensure that digital transactions contribute to local tax bases.

The timing is particularly strategic. As AI adoption accelerates across all sectors of the Philippine economy, implementing VAT now ensures the government captures revenue from what promises to be one of the fastest-growing service categories in the coming decade.

International Precedent and Local Impact

The Philippines joins a growing list of countries implementing digital services taxes on global technology platforms. However, the local impact feels particularly acute given the country's price-sensitive market and the relative novelty of widespread AI adoption.

Unlike developed markets where businesses might absorb such costs more easily, the Philippine market's sensitivity to price changes could significantly impact adoption rates. The 12% increase might not seem substantial in absolute terms, but in a market where many users carefully weigh the value proposition of every digital subscription, it could prove decisive.

The Individual User's Dilemma

For individual users, the new reality creates several uncomfortable scenarios. The tech-savvy professional who relies on ChatGPT for daily tasks now faces either obtaining a business registration and VAT ID – a process that can take weeks and involves ongoing compliance obligations – or accepting the 12% premium.

Students, perhaps the demographic most affected by this change, find themselves in an impossible position. Most lack the business credentials necessary for VAT registration, yet they've become increasingly dependent on AI tools for research, writing assistance, and learning enhancement. The additional cost could push many toward free alternatives or, worse, away from AI tools entirely during crucial educational years.

Small Business Resilience and Adaptation

However, the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit suggests that adaptation strategies will emerge. Business communities are already sharing information about VAT registration processes, and accountants report increased inquiries about setting up proper business structures to minimize the impact of digital service taxes.

Some businesses are exploring bulk purchasing strategies, where multiple small entities might coordinate their AI usage through a single VAT-registered entity, sharing costs and compliance responsibilities. Others are reassessing their AI tool portfolios, potentially consolidating multiple services to maintain functionality while managing increased costs.

The Broader Digital Taxation Landscape

This OpenAI development likely represents just the beginning of a broader digital taxation revolution in the Philippines. Other major technology platforms – from cloud computing services to design software providers – are undoubtedly monitoring this implementation closely, preparing for their own compliance requirements.

The precedent set here could influence how the Philippines approaches taxation of other digital services, potentially affecting everything from streaming platforms to social media advertising tools. The government's success in implementing this tax could embolden further digital taxation initiatives.

Innovation at a Crossroads

Perhaps most significantly, this development arrives at a critical juncture for Philippine innovation. The country has been positioning itself as a technology hub in Southeast Asia, with growing startup ecosystems in Manila, Cebu, and other urban centers. The additional cost of AI tools – already considered essential for competitive technology development – could impact the country's innovation trajectory.

Young entrepreneurs who once had equal access to world-class AI tools now face an additional barrier that their counterparts in other markets might not encounter. This could influence everything from the types of startups that emerge to the competitive advantages Philippine companies can maintain in global markets.

Looking Forward: Adaptation and Evolution

As August 1 approaches, the Philippine AI community faces a moment of reckoning. The romantic era of seamless, tax-free access to global AI services is ending, replaced by a more complex reality where digital innovation intersects with local tax policy.

Yet this transition also represents maturation – both of the Philippine digital economy and the government's ability to regulate it effectively. The implementation of VAT on AI services acknowledges that these tools have become essential business infrastructure rather than experimental luxuries.

The question "Pati ChatGPT may VAT na din?" will likely be remembered as the moment when artificial intelligence fully entered the Philippine mainstream – significant enough to tax, essential enough to regulate, and valuable enough for users to pay the premium despite their initial shock.

For Filipino AI users, the future requires adaptation, strategic thinking, and perhaps a new appreciation for the true cost of cutting-edge technology. The age of digital tax innocence is over, but the age of mature, sustainable AI adoption in the Philippines is just beginning.

The next chapter of this story will be written by how individuals, businesses, and institutions respond to this new reality – whether they see the 12% VAT as a barrier to innovation or simply the cost of doing business in an increasingly digital world where even artificial intelligence must contribute to building the nation's future.