Caraga field implementers sets steady course for 2024 deliverables

As part of its efforts to effectively and holistically implement comprehensive agrarian reform across all major programs and sectors in Caraga, the Regional Office has conducted a 2-day region-wide cascading of results from the recently concluded CY 2023 National Summative Assessment and direction-setting of CY 2024 targets at Almont Inland Resort, Butuan City on April 22, 2024.

The CY 2023 National Summative Assessment, which was held at Clark, Pampanga on March 5-7, 2024, included many department-wide highlights wherein DAR Caraga has been lauded as a stronghold throughout the country with its multiple awards and recognitions received during said assessment.

In line with this, to sustain and strengthen the momentum of DAR Caraga’s performance in its agrarian implementation for this year, the Regional Office deemed it necessary for this region-wide cascading to come into fruition.

Regional Director Atty. Merlita S. Capinpuyan welcomed the participants with high hopes that the achievements made by DAR Caraga to continue or even be surpassed by itself for CY 2024. She continued, “Knowing our target is important for us to hit our goals, hence, this direction-setting.”

RD Capinpuyan also urged for the field personnel to prioritize the Land Tenure Security Program (LTSP), which is one of the three major programs of DAR. She instructed everyone by saying, “After this event, we must swiftly return to our respective offices with all these guidelines and directives from Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III that will be discussed in mind and take it to heart, as these are all for our unified approach in aiding our agrarian reform beneficiaries.”

The major sectors that were cascaded today and will be continued tomorrow were the 3 major programs of DAR which are the LTSP, the Agrarian Justice Delivery Program (AJDP), and the Agrarian Beneficiaries’ Development and Sustainability Program (ARBDSP).

In addition, the World Bank-funded Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling or Project SPLIT was also included in the agenda which was reported by Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer (PARPO) II Maria Elizabeth L. De Guzman. She reiterated the importance of catching with the deadlines set by the Central Project Management Office (CPMO) especially that the field validation will only be until the end of Q2.

OIC-Assistant Regional Director for Admin. and ARBDSP, Joie L. Ceballos, was tasked to report first on the updates and guidelines from the Finance, Management and Administration Office (FMAO). He stressed that it is crucial for all the offices to be mindful of all the regulatory deadlines from our oversight agencies to better promote good governance. 

Whilst, Assistant Regional Director for Operations, Agnes L. Dela Cerna, continued the session by cascading the LTSP and components of the AJDP, particularly the Agrarian Law Implementation (ALI) and Agrarian Legal Assistance (ALA), as assisted by PARPO II Glen A. Petilla.  She started her presentation by expressing that the Field Operations Office (FOO) is focused on streamlining the numerous field forms and data elements to simplify the Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) process.

Touching on the directives from the Legal Affairs Office (LAO), PARPO II Petilla relayed that LAO is striving for all field offices to strictly comply with the enhanced Legal Case Monitoring System (LCMS) and formulation of a uniform framework and streamlined process for the resolution of ALI and Cancellation cases, among others.

All the PARPOs of the provinces also presented their respective 1st quarter accomplishments across all sectors which proved hopeful that they will be able to reach their targets on time.

This 2-day activity will continue until April 23, 2024.