DAR in WV aims for zero backlog of agrarian cases

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Western Visayas aims to achieve a zero backlog of resolutions to cases under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and other related cases.

“So many cases have piled up through the years. It’s time to step up our game and do our best to resolve most, if not all, our backlog of agrarian cases,” DAR Regional Director Stephen Leonidas said.

He explained that each agrarian justice delivery staff member has pledged to finish the cases pending in their respective offices.

“Our major target is to address the needs of our primary clients—the farmer-beneficiaries, the landless farmers, and the farmworkers with due regard to the rights of landowners,” Leonidas said.

“With this pledge, we have set our targets starting this year until 2020 to achieve a zero backlog for both the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board and Agrarian Legal Implementation cases,” he added. The challenge was posed by DAR Secretary John Castriciones during the agency’s assessment and planning last month.

The activity is conducted to analyze the previous year’s sectorial performance on Land Tenure Security Program, Agrarian Justice Delivery Program, and Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development and Sustainability Program vis-à-vis its approved targets and fund utilization.

To help achieve the targets of the regional office, Director Marjorie Ayson of the DAR-Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance gave a lecture on pertinent laws on resolving agrarian cases, on how to resolve issues on re-documentation, gave updates on the initiatives of the Secretary to streamline legal processes.