30 Sept 2021 – NTUC’s farmers organization FFF (Federation of Free Farmers) has had good results at influencing government policies and programs through coalition-building, mass and social media, and interaction with executive and legislative branches – coalition mass actions against rice trade liberalization; ongoing recovery by government of uncollected tariff from rice imports in 2019 and 2020, which are meant for farmer productivity and competitiveness programs; actions against rice importation which disadvantages rice farmers;

restoration of small farmers and fisherfolk representation in broad-based participatory ¬¬processes in agriculture and fisheries; implementing regulations of the 2021 coconut farmers and industry trust fund act; resolution of long-pending land cases (Mindoro Occidental, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon).

FFF and its cooperatives are building motorized fishing boats under LGU contract for fisherfolk, cacao production/processing, mangrove planting and artificial reef projects (Davao, CARAGA); engaged in skills training and livelihood – corn snack processing, corn husk weaving (Tarlac); food processing (Sultan Kudarat); solar energy for irrigation pumps (Tarlac); acquisition of farm machinery, vehicles and equipment (Pangasinan, Mindoro Occidental); financing, procurement, delivery of fishing boats, fish cages and other supplies (Davao, Zamboanga-Sibugay); agricultural processing (Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato); agricultural marketing (Zamboanga-Sibugay); and collaborating with DA on establishing containerized gardening at cooperative, community and household levels in urban areas.

It has engaged in social services – food packs distribution (Leyte, Cotabato); community pantry (Negros Occidental); even free hair cut and manicure (Tarlac) during the pandemic.