PRRD to DAR chief: “Distribute lands to farmers and rebel returnees”
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has directed the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to distribute agricultural lands to farmers living in areas with armed conflicts and rebel returnees, Secretary Brother John said Saturday (March 6).
Brother John happily announced this to farmers yesterday during the land distribution ceremony held at the Kaamulan Sports Complex in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
“The President told me to give government-owned lands (GOLs) and private agricultural lands (PALs) to landless farmers and rebel returnees. The DAR will recommend an executive order so that the agency can immediately comply with the President’s directive,” said Brother John.
He said the awarding of lots to former rebels is in compliance to the President’s order to provide an avenue for the former rebels to start their new life and encourage the other rebel group members to surrender to the government.
The President and Brother John were at the Joint meeting of the National Task Force - Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Northern Mindanao (NTF-RTF-ELCAC X) where the President, together with Brother John, distributed certificates of landownership award (CLOAs) to 2,455 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) living in areas where armed-conflict exists. The farmers were represented by their Mayors who received their land titles on their behalf.
In his speech the President called Brother John and asked how much lands are left for distribution.
“Sinabihan ko siya (Brother John) - ’iyang lupa sa gobyerno na hindi nagalaw mula 20 years, kunin at ipamigay lahat ng lupa sa tao’,” the President said.
According to Brother John, 450,000 hectares are still left for distribution while 160,000 hectares of new lands are up for distribution in the coming months.
“The President believes that the agrarian reform program is a major solution in resolving armed conflicts in the countryside,” Brother John said.
He said that under Republic Act 6657 or the agrarian reform law, rebel returnees can also own land.
“Hindi lamang po ang mga retired pulis at retired army, pwede rin po ang mga rebel returnees. Bilang executive, sinabi ng Pangulo, para sila ay magbalik loob at muling sumama sa ating lipunan, para magkaroon ng kapayapaan ang ating bansa,” Brother John said.
DAR Northern Mindanao Regional Director Zorayda Macadindang said the DAR is a member of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Northern Mindanao (RTF-ELCAC).
“We have identified areas in Northern Mindanao where armed conflict is present. It was a long and hard process; we confronted a lot of challenges. And today we are happy to distribute land titles to farmers living in these areas,” Macadindang said.
A total of 1,473 ARBs received their CLOAs from the DAR in a ceremony held on March 6, 2021 at the Kaamulan Sports Complex in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.
Macadindang said the CLOA, which comprises a total of 1,393 hectares, are located in Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental.
She said the DAR is closely implementing the mandate of President Duterte to uplift the lives of all farmers by distributing the lands and providing the necessary support services.
“Hangad po naming mapaunlad ang buhay ng mga magsasaka. Layunin ng DAR na magkaroon ng komportableng pamumuhay ang mga magsasaka,” Macadindang said.