Marawi City, Lanao del Sur – Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary (DAR) Secretary Brother John Castriciones led the ocular site inspection of Camp Keithley in this city to jumpstart the agency’s plan to immediately distribute the area to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as part of the directive under Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019.

“The distribution of idle government-owned lands is a top priority following the issuance by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019,” he said.

EO 75 directs all government instrumentalities to identify lands owned by the government devoted or suitable for agricultural purposes for distribution to identified qualified beneficiaries.

Castriciones, together with his other DAR officials, visited Camp Keithley in Marawi, Saguiaran, Piagapo, and Marantao to ensure distribution of all agricultural lands in Northern Mindanao, specifically those owned by the government which are suitable for agricultural purposes.

Camp Keithley is a former United States military base built during the start of the Philippine-American war in the early part of the 20th century. On December 23, 1953, former President Elpidio Quirino, by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 453, converted the 6,667-hectare area, now renamed Camp Amai Pakpak, into a military reserve.

Only last month on May 31, 2021, Bro. John and Mindanao Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Mohammad Yacob led the pledge of commitment held in Cagayan de Oro City to support the distribution of government-owned lands in Camp Keithley Military Reservation.

Included among those who pledged to support the land distribution were: Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob, Mayors Ali Sumandar (Piagapo), Akira Alonto (Marantao), Hafiz Ampa Muti (Saguiaran), Majul Gandamra (Marawi City), and Sultan Ali Mindalano of the Marawi Sultanate League.

Marawi City, Lanao del Sur – Pinangunahan ni Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Brother John Castriciones ang pag-inspeksyon sa Camp Keithley sa lungsod na ito upang masimulan ang plano ng ahensya na agarang maipamahagi ang nasabing lupain sa mga kwalipikadong agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) bilang bahagi ng direktiba sa ilalim ng Executive Order No. 75, serye ng 2019.

“Ang pamamahagi ng mga nakatiwangwang na government-owned lands (GOLs) ay prayoridad alinsunod sa inilabas ni Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019,” ayon kay Castriciones

Ang EO 75 ay nag-aatas sa lahat ng mga ahensya ng pamahalaan na tukuyin ang mga lupain na pag-aari ng pamahalaan na maaaring ilaan o angkop para sa agrikultura upang maipamahagi sa mga natukoy na kwalipikadong benepisyaryo.

Si Castriciones, kasama ang iba pang opisyal ng DAR, ay bumisita sa Camp Keithley sa Marawi, Saguiaran, Piagapo at Marantao upang matiyak ang pamamahagi ng lahat ng mga lupang agrikultura sa Hilagang Mindanao, partikular na ang pag-aari ng gobyerno na angkop para sa mga hangaring pang-agrikultura.

Ang Camp Keithley ay dating base militar ng Estados Unidos na itinayo noong nagsimula ang giyera ng Pilipinas at Amerika noong unang bahagi ng ika-20 siglo. Noong Disyembre 23, 1953, idineklara ni dating Presidente Elpidio Quirino, sa bisa ng Presidential Proclamation No. 453, ang pagbabago ng gamit ng 6,667-ektaryang lupain, na ngayon ay may pangalang Camp Amai Pakpak, bilang isang military reserve.

Nuon lamang nakaraang buwan, Mayo 31, 2021, pinangunahan ni Bro. John at ni Minister ng Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Mohammad Yacob, ang paglagda sa pangako na susuportahan ang pamamahagi ng mga lupain na pagmamay-ari ng pamahalaan sa Camp Keithley Military Reservation.

Kasama sa mga lumagda para sa pagsuporta sa pamamahagi ng lupain ay sina: Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong, Jr., MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob, sina Mayor Ali Sumandar (Piagapo), Akira Alonto (Marantao), Hafiz Ampa Muti (Saguiaran), Majul Gandamra (Marawi City), at Sultan Ali Mindalano ng Marawi Sultanate League.