Land Disputes Stall Basilan Road Projects, Farmers Bear the Brunt

BASILAN, Philippines – Farmers and residents in Basilan continue to bear the brunt of stalled infrastructure projects, with unfinished roads significantly increasing transport expenses, disrupting market access, and isolating communities. Nearly 100 road projects, predominantly farm-to-market roads, remain stalled, unfinished, or suspended due to unresolved right-of-way disputes, according to records from the Bangsamoro Ministry of Public Works. The ministry’s Basilan District Engineering Office had secured a P627-million infrastructure program this year for a road network across 11 municipalities, including Lamitan City. A substantial portion of this budget, along with previous allocations, was intended for farm-to-market roads to facilitate the efficient transport of agricultural produce. However, approximately 70% of Basilan’s ongoing road projects have experienced "delays or project abandonment." Some have been unfinished for over a year, while others have been delayed for months. Acting District Engineer Alnaif Ronie Cuevas stated that the delays stem from overlapping family inheritance disputes and informal tribal land systems. Cuevas highlighted that the primary obstacle is the persistent issue of unresolved right-of-way disputes. In past projects, budgets were approved based on informal, verbal land "donations" from local elders. But upon the arrival of construction equipment, younger heirs and adjacent clan claimants began demanding compensation for the removal of mature rubber and coconut trees, halting paving operations. The consequences are stark for affected communities. Most stalled projects are in interior areas like Sumisip, Tipo-Tipo, Tuburan, and Akbar. The lack of continuous paved routes forces public transport drivers to charge double or triple fares to offset vehicle damage from poor road conditions. For small-scale farmers, these higher transport costs consume a significant portion of their daily income. During heavy rains, unpaved sections turn into thick mud, isolating barangays and hindering access to emergency healthcare. To address these challenges, Cuevas has scheduled a meeting with contractors to discuss solutions for right-of-way problems. A prominent example is the Basilan Transcentral Road, where a dispute involving an estimated P18.5 million in compensation demanded by local landowners has prevented the completion of an 8.5-kilometer stretch. Despite significant funding releases from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliament for this high-priority route, civil works remain suspended due to overlapping ancestral land claims and demands for compensation for land value and tree replacement. The BARMM public works ministry lacks flexible funds for property indemnity, leaving affected projects indefinitely suspended. This situation in Basilan reflects a broader national challenge. During his 5th State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the government's efforts to address right-of-way disputes, citing the 2025 Accelerated and Reformed Right-of-Way (ARROW) Act as a key measure. Signed into law in September 2025, Republic Act No. 12289 amends existing right-of-way rules to streamline land acquisition for government infrastructure projects while ensuring just compensation for property owners. Marcos believes the ARROW Act will help fast-track land acquisition and project completion for the country's transport infrastructure expansion.