DAR Pangasinan 1st sem accomplishments prove that pandemic cannot hinder public service
URDANETA CITY, Pangasinan — The Department of Agrarian Reform Pangasinan was able to deliver outstanding accomplishments for the first six months of 2021 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The office maximized technology in delivering public service safely and effectively. Virtual mediation and hearings, teleconsultation, and bundling of activities were some of the creative ways that the office employed to surmount the challenges of stringent pandemic restrictions.
The Legal Assistance Division (LAD) and DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) assured no delay in Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD). From January to June, the LAD handled 172 land transfer clearances and conducted 1,436 mediation cases. These figures accounted for 90% and 143% of the year's forecast, respectively.
Meanwhile, DARAB resolved 158 cases (60.31% of annual target and 100% versus caseload) and issued 172 writs of execution.
A total of 2,888 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from 65 agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) benefitted from the Program Beneficiaries Development Division's (PBDD) social infrastructure building projects, which include the conduct of organizational building and governance-related activities. The PBDD, which is also in charge of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development Sustainability Program (ARBDSP) mandate of DAR, involved 33 ARBOs and over 1,645 ARBs in various enterprise development and economic support programs, such as linkage to markets and microfinance, products and enterprise development, and lawyering.
The Land Tenure Improvement Division (LTID) also takes its spot in the first semester's highlight, with the division working closely with 11 field validation teams (FVTs) under World Bank-funded Project SPLIT. In just six months, LTID and FVTs validated 341 landholdings that have a combined area of at least 3,124.5632 hectares, in preparation for the subdivision of collective certificate of land ownership awards (CCLOAs) across the province. By the end of June and early July, FVTs began to conduct extensive community consultation which is the first step in the parcelization process.
In addition to this feat, LTID distributed 76 EP/CLOAs to 76 ARBs, and completed 7 claimfolder documentation, which is 175% of the division's target for the year.
Ensuring a safe workplace for everyone
Just as COVID-19 vaccines began rolling out in the National Capital Region in early 2021, DAR Pangasinan was quick to procure pneumococcal vaccines for employees which were meant to guard against severe pneumonia, a common and deadly symptom of those infected with COVID-19. The vaccination of staff in May also included a whole-day stress management seminar and information dissemination forum on COVID-19 vaccines which were yet to reach the province then.
The pneumococcal vaccines served as a layer of protection not just for employees but also for the clients that visit the office personally.
This quarter, 49 employees have received at least one jab of a COVID-19 vaccine, further making DAR Pangasinan a safe place for everyone to receive fast and quality public service during these trying times.
The combined efforts of DAR Pangasinan to reach out to ARBs and to prioritize everyone's health enabled the office to perform even with the looming uncertainty of the pandemic. (zarena ann amado) ###
