To identify possible landholdings that can be covered for the second batch under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Boracay Island, the Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Agriculture (DA), and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently conducted a revalidation, ocular inspection, and workshop held in Malay, Aklan.

DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila B. Enciso said the activity is in line with the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to place Boracay Island as a ‘land reform area’.

DENR earlier turned over in 2018 to the DAR the first batch of eight (8) landholdings in Boracay island covering a total land area of 7.9640 hectares situated in Manoc-Manoc, Boracay. Portions of the said landholdings were distributed to 44 members of Ati and Tumandok tribe under collective ownership.

“After the successful implementation of the first batch of landholdings that was turned over by DENR to DAR, the second batch of agricultural lands were again identified comprising of twelve (12) lots for subsequent acquisition and distribution to identified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). The said parcels of lands require revalidation pursuant to DENR-LMB Technical Bulletin No. 2019-001 entitled: “Procedures on the Validation, Segregation Survey and Turn-over of Identified Lots in the Island of Boracay Under Land Reform,” Enciso said.

Aklan provincial agrarian reform program officer Ma. Teresa C. Valencia said that after the tactical brainstorming, workshop, and field revalidation, the participants identified the dominant land use based on previous reports and actual land utilization.

“We will establish baseline data of specific landholdings for CARP coverage and generate information and recommendations for turn-over of agricultural lands by DENR to DAR,” Valencia said.

Earlier in 2019, President Duterte also signed Executive Order 75, which mandates the distribution of government-owned lands under the second phase of the agrarian reform program.

DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones said the order will pave the way for the distribution of government-owned agricultural lands that will be distributed under the CARP.

Participants in the said workshop include representatives from DAR, DENR, DA, Task Force Agrarian Boracay Island, Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee, and other stakeholders involved in the project.

Upang matukoy ang ikalawang batch ng mga lupain na maaaring isailalim sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program sa Boracay Island, ang Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA) at Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) ay nagsagawa kamakailan ng pagsusuri, ocular inspection at workshop sa Malay, Aklan.

Sinabi ni DAR Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila B. Enciso na ang aktibidad ay alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na ilagay ang Boracay Island bilang isang ‘land reform area’.

Nauna na dito, noong 2018, ang DENR ay naglipat ng unang batch ng walong (8) parsela ng lupain sa Boracay na kinapapalooban ng 7.9640 ektarya sa Manoc-Manoc, Boracay. Ang bahagi ng nasabing lupain ay ipinagkaloob sa 44 na mga miyembro ng tribong Ati at Tumandok sa ilalim ng collective ownership.

"Matapos ang matagumpay na pagpapatupad sa unang batch ng lupain na ipinagkaloob ng DENR sa DAR, ang pangalawang batch ng mga lupang pang-agrikultural ay natukoy na din na kinapapalooban ng labindalawang (12) lote upang ipamahagi sa mga matutukoy na agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). Ang nasabing mga parsela ng lupa ay nangangailangan ng revalidation alinsunod sa DENR-LMB Technical Bulletin No. 2019-001 na may titulong: “Procedures on the Validation, Segregation Survey and Turn-over of Identified Lots in the Island of Boracay Under Land Reform,” ani Enciso.

Ayon kay Aklan provincial agrarian reform program officer Ma. Teresa C. Valencia matapos ang masusing talakayan, workshop, at field revalidation sa lugar, tinukoy ng mga lumahok kung ano ang pangunahing gamit ng lupa batay sa mga naunang ulat at aktwal na paggamit ng lupa.

"Maglalatag kami ng baseline data ng mga natukoy na lupain upang mapasailalim ito sa programa ng CARP, at bubuo rin kami ng impormasyon at rekomendasyon para sa napipintong paglilipat ng DENR ng mga lupang agrikultural sa DAR," ani Valencia.

Nauna rito noong 2019, nilagdaan rin ni Pangulong Duterte ang Executive Order 75, na nag-uutos sa pamamahagi ng mga lupaing pagmamay-ari ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng ikalawang yugto ng agrarian reform program.

Sinabi ni DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones na ang kautusan ay magbibigay daan sa pamamahagi ng mga lupang agrikultural na pagmamay-ari ng gobyerno upang maipamahagi sa ilalim ng CARP.

Kasamang lumahok sa nasabing aktibidad ang mga kinatawan ng DAR, DENR, DA, Task Force Agrarian Boracay Island, Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee, at iba pang may kinalaman sa proyekto.