SOLIDARITY MESSAGE: 42nd Cordillera Day
We, Solidagro, express our warmest greetings of solidarity to the Cordillera people on the occasion of the 42nd Cordillera Day celebration. This day is a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle and resilience of the Cordillera communities in asserting their rights to land, life, and livelihood.
Our continuing partnership with the Center for Development Programme in the Cordillera (CDPC) has, through the years, built not only a special bond but also a shared commitment to advancing people-centered development. Together, we have worked to strengthen communities and uphold the principles of justice, equity, and sustainability.
Our ongoing project with CDPC places agroecology at the heart of this partnership. Farmers, civil society organizations, and government agencies are engaged in building a rights-based agroecological food system—one that recognizes that food sovereignty cannot exist without the protection of land, resources, and the right to self-determination. Agroecology is more than a farming practice; it is a collective assertion of the people’s right to live with dignity, to nurture their environment, and to safeguard their future.
We have witnessed how organizations of youth, women, men, and other sectors have courageously carried forward their tasks to defend their rights to land and resources. Their determination is not simply an act of resistance—it is a profound assertion of dignity, identity, and the collective will to protect what rightfully belongs to the people.
Despite facing enormous challenges—whether from external pressures, systemic injustices, or threats to their ancestral domains—the Cordillera’s multi-sectoral organizations remain unwavering. They stand firm in their pursuit of people-oriented development, proving that genuine progress can only be achieved when communities themselves hold the power to shape their future.
This steadfast struggle is a beacon of hope, not only for the Cordillera but for all peoples who fight for justice and sovereignty. It shows that even in the face of adversity, unity and courage can carve the path toward a better, more sustainable, and more equitable future.
We believe that the people and communities who nourish the world must have their collective rights safeguarded. Protecting these rights ensures their continued access to and stewardship over land, waters, seeds, knowledge, and culture—foundations of life and livelihood. In this spirit, we stand firmly with you in the call to “assert our right to land, life, and livelihood.”
We salute all the Cordillera heroes—past and present—whose courage, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment continue to inspire us. Their legacy of struggle and resilience lights the path toward justice and dignity, reminding us that the fight for land, life, and livelihood is both noble and necessary.
Long live the Filipino people!
Long live international solidarity!