Now, we are planning to set up a new, even bigger farm. It is currently also abandoned but need to be purchased, too. After purchasing it, we are planning to prepare it and try to expand it (needs to be considered locally).
Preparing will include purchasing rice seedlings and planting.
Hey there bro nice to see you helping some people in a developing country as they truly need help directly. Also if I may ask does the friend of yours in the Philippines know anything about the land grants being given for farmers there? Because if you want to save your money and spend it elsewhere your friend might want to try and apply for a land grant under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Agricultural free patents are land grants awarded to natural-born Filipino citizens in actual occupation and cultivation for at least 30 years of alienable and disposable lands not more than 12 hectares, and have paid the corresponding real property taxes.
Basically the land grant is about occupying a disposable land for a certain period of time in which the transfer of ownership will happen just by fulfilling the occupation period. So if you want to maximize your money you might want to explore this option with the DENR besides land grants from what I know they have several other related benefits for farmers regarding special land use permits on which the farmer is allowed to farm freely without purchasing the land, I hope this helps you as even some citizens here in the Philippines don't know about these kinds of laws/benefits for them.