Farmers and several groups from various regions staged a protest at Mendiola in Manila on Wednesday, urging the Marcos administration to protect their land and livelihood amid concerns over the country’s participation in Pax Silica and the threat of a Super El Niño.

More than 1,000 protesters, including farmers from Albay, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, CALABARZON, Mindoro and Palawan, gathered near the University of Santo Tomas along España Boulevard. Joined by youth leaders and members of other organizations, they marched to the "Mendiola Peace Arch" for a program as part of a coordinated nationwide protest.

Led by the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, the protesters called on the Marcos administration to prioritize farmers’ rights to land and livelihood. They also demanded higher farmgate prices for palay and affordable rice for consumers.

The groups accused the government of facilitating the sale of the country’s land and natural resources. They called for agricultural land to be distributed to farmers and opposed its use for projects associated with Pax Silica.

Sonny Sigmayon, a farmer from Occidental Mindoro, said government assistance rarely reaches their community.

“Panawagan po namin sana po ay kami po ay mabigyan ng mga ayuda dahil po sa amin bihira po kami bigyan ng ayuda... Talaga pong napakahirap kaming bigyan,” Sigmayon said in Filipino.

Representatives of the Kabataan Party-list and former secretary Liza Maza also attended the activity.

“Generally peaceful naman po, malumanay naman ang ating mga kababayan sa paglalahad ng kanilang saloobin. More or less nasa 1,000 ‘yung nandito,” Santiago said in Filipino.

The protesters ended their program by singing “Bayan, Bayan, Bayan Ko” before dispersing peacefully.