The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is set to distribute a maximum of 250 hectares out of a total of 427.0611 hectares of Lot 697 of the Yulo King Ranch (YKR) to ninety-eight (98) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Busuanga in the province of Palawan on September 20, 2021.

“DAR has successfully worked out to place the previously identified Lot 697, Cad-1150-D with a gross area of 427.0611 hectares under EO 75,” DAR-Palawan Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Daisy D. Magbanua said.

She disclosed that the YKR, now known as the Busuanga Pasture Reserve, had been established as Pasture Reserve by virtue of Proclamation No.1387 in 1975 by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos with an aggregate area of, more or less, 40,000 hectares and is located in the municipalities of Coron and Busuanga, Palawan.

“Around 9,022 hectares had been projected and found to be alienable and disposable, (A & D) thus, coverable under CARP, the area is no longer actually, directly, and exclusively used for the purpose for which it has been reserved,” she said.

Magbanua said the 9,022 hectares will be subjected for segregation of uncoverable portion such as mountainous area above 18% slope, forested areas, rivers (with legal easement) and watersheds.

“The corresponding Deed of Transfer (DOT) was prepared and submitted to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the proper conveyance of the identified sixteen (16) parcels to DAR for coverage under the CARP,’ she said.

She disclosed that for failure to secure DOT from DENR for the 16 lots classified as A & D lands covering an aggregate area of 9,022.9330 hectares, the DAR provincial office was without recourse but to focus on the 2,726 hectares of A & D lands composed of six (6) cadastral lots found within the BPR/YKR which shall no longer require a segregation survey.

Meanwhile, DAR Secretary Brother John Castriciones already distributed 80 hectares of agricultural lands to 102 ARBs, the first tranche of government-owned-lands (GOLs) in the municipality last January 22, 2021.

More than a week after the CLOA Distribution, the DAR also included the fourteen (14) Agriculture graduates of Busuanga as among the recipients of the government-owned lands pursuant to AO 03, Series of 2020.

Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Series of 2019, signed into law on February 1, 2019 by President Rodrigo Duterte, prompted the DAR to quickly facilitate the processing of idle and abandoned GOLs that can be covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The DAR being named as the lead agency that provides central direction and coordination for the implementation of the said executive order would expedite the process of acquiring the lands for distribution.

Nakatakdang ipamahagi ng Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) ang may 250 ektaryang lupain ng Lot 697 sa Yulo King Ranch sa siyamput walong (98) agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) ng Busuanga, sa lalawigan ng Palawan sa Setyembre 20, 2021.

"Matagumpay na na proseso ng DAR ang Lot 697, Cad-1150-D na may kabuuang sukat na 427.0611 ektarya sa ilalim ng EO 75," ani DAR-Palawan provincial agrarian reform program Officer II Daisy D. Magbanua.

Ipinahayag niya na ang YKR na kilala ngayon bilang Busuanga Pasture Reserve ay itinatag bilang Pasture Reserve sa bisa ng Proclamation No.1387 noong 1975 ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand E. Marcos na may kabuuang 40,000 ektarya na matatagpuan sa mga munisipalidad ng Coron at Busuanga, Palawan.

"Humigit kumulang na 9,022 hectares ang nakikitang maaaring masakop sa ilalim ng CARP, na hindi nakatalaga, direkta, at eksklusibong ginagamit para sa hangaring inilaan para dito ," aniya.

Sinabi ni Magbanua na 9,022 ektarya ay isasailalim sa pagsusukat, katulad ng mabundok na lugar na may taas ng 18%, mga kagubatan na lugar, mga ilog (na may legal easement) at mga tubig-saluran.

"Ang kaukulang Deed of Transfer (DOT) ay inihanda at isinumite sa Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) para sa paglilipat ng labing-anim (16) na mga parsela sa DAR sa ilalim ng CARP," aniya.

Isiniwalat niya na dahil sa kabiguang makakuha ang DOT mula sa DENR para sa 16 na lote na alienable an disposal (A & D) na lupain na may kabuuang 9,022.9330 ektarya, nakatuon ang DARPO sa 2,726 ektarkang A & D na lupain na binubuo ng anim (6) cadastral na natagpuan sa loob ng BPR / YKR na hindi na kailangan sukatin.

Samantala, si DAR Secretary na si Brother John Castriciones ay nakapamahagi na ng 80 ektarya ng mga lupang agrikultura sa 102 ARBs, ang unang tranche ng government-owned-lands (GOLs) sa munisipalidad noong Enero 22, 2021.

Mahigit isang linggo matapos ang pamamahagi ng CLOA, isinasama din ng DAR ang labing-apat (14) na nagtapos sa kursong agrikultura sa Busuanga sa mga tatanggap ng mga lupaing pag-aari ng gobyerno alinsunod sa AO 03, Serye ng 2020.

Ang Executive Order (EO) No. 75, Serye ng 2019, ay pinirmahang batas ni President Rodrigo Duterte noong Pebrero 1, 2019, kung saan mas napabilis ng DAR ang pagpoproseso ng mga idle at abandoned na mga lupain ng pamahalaan na maaaring isailalim sa Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Ang DAR bilang pangunahing ahensiya na magbibigay probisyon sa direksyon at koordinasyon sa pagpapatupad ng nasabing EO No. 75 ang naatasang para mapabilis ang pagpoproseso at pamamahagi ng mga lupain.