DAR reinstates CARP beneficiaries in Quezon

Agrarian reform beneficiaries who were forced to leave their lands in San Francisco town in Quezon province have been reinstated in their farms, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said over the weekend.

The farmers said the former landowners harassed them, forcing them to leave.

Officers from the police and military assisted the DAR in reinstating the farmers last Thursday.

Illegal structures and steel barriers set up by former landowners to prevent farmer-beneficiaries from entering the compound were demolished by the authorities.

Police arrested several persons identified with the landowners for trying to prevent the reinstatement of the farmers.

A detachment manned by the police, military and DAR representatives was set up to ensure peace and order in the area and secure farmers.

DAR started reinstating qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries in the villages of Don Juan Vercelos and Butanguiad, both in San Francisco, last May 15.

A total of 1,715.98 hectares of agricultural land formerly owned by the Matias family in Bondoc Peninsula was distributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in 2004.

Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) have been issued to the beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, the militant group Akbayan welcomed the reinstatement of the beneficiaries and described it as major victory for the farmers.

The group lauded DAR for showing political will and courage to implement the order involving the Hacienda Matias.

It challenged DAR to complete the installation of other agrarian reform beneficiaries .