DAR plans to distribute 9,000 hectares of govt-owned land

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) vowed to distribute within the year around 9,000 hectares of government-owned agricultural lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries in Busuanga in the Province of Palawan.

Agrarian Reform Secretary John R. Cast rici ones said the agency is now pooling its resources for the biggest distribution of government-owned land sin the history of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Castriciones made the promise during the distribution of around 80 hectares of agricultural lands to 102 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBS) held at the Busuanga gymnasium last January 22.

He said the activity is just the first tranche of distributing the government-owned lands in Busuanga.

The land in Busuanga includes a portion of the Yulo King Ranch, which has been the subject of a petition by various farmers’ organizations in Busuanga.

The vast tract of land under the Yulo King Ranch is classified as a grazing area, which is under an agreement between the proponent and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

With President Duterte’s signing into law of Executive Order (EO) 75, Series of 2019, on February 1, 2019, Castriciones said the DAR has immediately facilitated the process of subjecting the vast tract of land in Busuanga under the 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 ,” cast rici ones said.

Meanwhile, Support Services Office Undersecretary Emily O. Padilla said that the DAR is doubling its effort so that they could finish all the backlog in distributing the lands before the President’s term ends.