The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the province of Capiz, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), stayed consistent with its mission as it provided assistance to the 175 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) to take actual physical possession of the DAR-awarded lands formerly owned by Nemesio Tan.

The Nemesio Tan estate is covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) located in barangay Culilang, President Roxas, Capiz, and barangay of Dulangan and San Sebastian, Capiz with a total land area of 188.08 hectares.

Regional Director Sheila Enciso said the 175 farmer-beneficiaries of the Nemesio Tan property were installed on May 11, 2021. However, due to the strong resistance of Ferdinand Bacanto, who claimed to be the former landowner’s administrator, and the presence of standing crops, the installed ARBs were deprived of their rights to actually and physically possess their landholdings.

Enciso noted that prior to the conduct of the activity, the DAR municipal office identified the lots that were already harvested, cleared of standing crops, and ready for ratooning.

“On the last week of November, the concerned ARBs, including members of their immediate households voluntarily helped in the clearing activities,” Enciso said.

She said that the area cleared were portions of Lot 1 and Lot 2-D in Brgy. Culilang, President Roxas, and both lots were already harvested and cleared of standing crops.

Enciso disclosed that they also put demarcation strings as markings of their awarded lands considering that concrete monuments installed by the DAR surveyors are already missing.

“It is rightful and timely for the ARBs to take possession and cultivate their awarded lands taking into consideration their safety and security as the utmost priority,” Enciso said.

She said that it is the duty of the department to implement agrarian reform and that the awarded lands should be enjoyed by the ARBs.

Enciso added that the collaborative efforts of the DAR, ARBs, PNP, and AFP have made the activity a successful one.

Assistant Regional Director Lucrecia Taberna said that DAR is persistent towards exercising the rightful ownership of the farmer-beneficiaries to actually possess and cultivate the lands awarded to them but the primary consideration should be the value of life.

‘’There is no question about the political will of the officials and employees of the DAR in the implementation of our program, but we must secure the safety and security of all with the help of AFP and PNP’’, Taberna said.

Taberna explained that some powerful landowners have the means to harass DAR personnel and the ARBs.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Anthony P. Arostique was very thankful for the assistance of the PNP and AFP in the implementation of the programs of the DAR.

‘’With the presence of the PNP, and AFP, we are assured of the genuine implementation of the program,” Arostique said.

ARB leader Pancho Arroyo expressed his gratitude to the DAR, AFP, and PNP for providing them security and uplifting their lives.

‘I am very thankful for the continuous support of DAR, PNP and AFP. Without their help we will not be able to reach this milestone to cultivate our land and uplift our lives,” Arroyo said.

After twenty-four (24) years of fighting for their rights, Pancho Arroyo and the rest of the ARBs of the Nemesio Tan Estate will be able to cultivate the DAR-awarded lands and be able to elevate the quality of their lives.

Nagsanib puwersa ang  Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Philippine National Police (PNP) at Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sa lalawigan ng Capiz upang aktwal at pisikal na makuha ng may 175 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) ang lupaing ipinagkaloob sa kanila ng DAR na dating pagmamay-ari ni Nemesio Tan.

Ang Nemesio Tan estate ay nasakop sa ilalim ng Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) na matatagpuan sa Barangay Culilang, President Roxas Capiz at mga Barangay ng Dulangan at San Estaban Capiz na may kabuuang lawak na 188.0806 ektarya.

Sinabi ni Regional Director Sheila Enciso na noong Mayo 11, 2021 ang 175 mga magsasakang-benepisyaryo ng Nemesio Tan landholdings ay naitalaga na sa nasabing lupain. Subalit  dahil sa matinding pagtutol ni Ferdinand Bacanto, na nagsasabing siya ang tagapangasiwa ng may-ari ng lupa, at dahil na rin mayroon pang mga pananim,  nawalan ang mga ARBs ng karapatan sa aktwal na pisikal na pagmamay-ari ng kanilang mga lupain.

Sinabi ni Enciso na bago ang pagsasagawa ng aktibidad, tiniyak ng DAR municipal office ang mga lote na naani na, naalis na ang mga pananim at handa na para sa ratooning.

"Noong huling linggo ng Nobyembre, ang mga sangkot na ARBs, kasama ang mga miyembro ng kanilang pamilya, ay boluntaryong tumulong sa paglilinis ng lupain," ani Enciso.

Aniya ang mga nalinis na lugar ay bahagi ng Lot 1-B at Lot 2-D sa Brgy.Culilang, President Roxas,at ang mga pananim dito ay pareho ng naani at wala ng mga tanim.

Ipinahayag ni Enciso na naglagay din sila ng mga demarcation string bilang mga marka para sa iginawad na mga lupain, dahil ang mga konkretong monumento na inilagay ng mga surveyor ng DAR ay hindi na mahanap o makita.

"Nararapat at napapanahon para sa mga ARBs na maangkin at linangin ang mga iginawad na lupain  sa kanila, pero dapat maging prayoridad ang  kaligtasan at seguridad nila," ani Enciso.

Aniya, tungkulin ng DAR na ipatupad ang repormang agraryo at ang iginawad na lupa ay dapat tamasahin ng mga ARBs.

Idinagdag ni Enciso na naging matagumpay ang aktibidad na ito sa pagtutulungan ng DAR, ARBs, PNP at AFP.

Sinabi ni Assistant Regional Director Lucrecia Taberna na ang DAR ay pursigido para tulungan ang  mga magsasakang-benepisyaryo upang aktuwal na angkinin at linangin ang mga lupaing iginawad sa kanila ngunit ang pangunahing konsiderasyon ay ang buhay.

‘’Hindi kuwestiyon kung may political will ang mga opisyal at empleyado ng DAR sa pagpapatupad ng ating programa, dapat lamang nating siguraduhin ang kaligtasan at seguridad ng lahat sa tulong ng AFP at PNP’’, ani Taberna.

Ipinaliwanag ni Taberna na ang ilang makapangyarihang may-ari ng lupa ay may paraan para i-harass ang mga tauhan ng DAR at ang mga ARBs.

Lubos ang pasasalamat ni Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Anthony P. Arostique sa tulong ng PNP at AFP sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa ng DAR.

‘’Dahil sa presensya ng PNP at AFP, kami ay nakatitiyak ng tunay na pagpapatupad ng programa,” ani Arostique.

Nagpasalamat ang pinuno ng mga ARB na si Pancho Arroyo sa lahat ng suporta mula sa DAR, AFP at PNP na nagbibigay sa kanila ng seguridad at maiangat ng kanilang pamumuhay.

‘’Salamat sa DAR,PNP at AFP sa patuloy na suporta. Kung hindi dahil sa tulong nila hindi namin mararating ang kaganapang ito na malinang ang aming lupain para maiangat ang aming pamumuhay,” ani Arroyo.

Pagkatapos ng dalawamput-apat (24) na taong pakikipaglaban para sa kanilang karapatan, si Pancho Arroyo at ang iba pang mga ARBs ng Nemesio Tan Estate ay makakapagsaka na sa mga iginawad na lupain ng DAR sa kanila upang maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay.