Farmers and religious leaders reiterated their call for agrarian reform as the Philippines marked its Independence Day today.

“We hope that the mandated completion of the agrarian reform program by 2014 is sincerely in the president’s mind and heart,” said the farmers in a statement.

President Benigno Aquino did not mention agrarian reform during his Independence Day speech in the province of Bulacan. He instead urged the public to support his campaign against corruption.

Last week, he told journalists in London that his government would complete the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, which includes land redistribution, before its expiration in 2014.