DAR to distribute 14K hectares to war vets, kin

AGRARIAN Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella 3rd on Tuesday said that the DAR plans to distribute 14,118 hectares of government land to landless war veterans, surviving spouses or orphans, retired military and police personnel, and agricultural courses graduates for 2022.

Estrella said that he has ordered all field personnel to immediately conduct field validation activities to determine the land that could be distributed to the beneficiaries.

“In compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is working double time to speed up the distribution of idle government-owned lands to landless war veterans, their surviving spouses or orphans, retired military and police personnel, and agricultural courses graduates,” Estrella said.

He added that at least 24,459 hectares of government-owned land are up for field validation under Executive Order (EO) 75, series of 2019.

EO 75 directs all departments, bureaus, offices and instrumentalities of the government to identify land suitable for agriculture for distribution to the beneficiaries.

In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July, Marcos vowed to pursue the distribution of unused government agricultural lands.

DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Kazel Celeste said regional and provincial land reform implementers were tasked to submit their reports soonest.

Celeste added that she expects personnel to present other supporting documents, including photocopies of the proclamation or titles, certifications from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources classifying the lands as alienable and disposable, certifications from the Department of Agriculture as to their suitability for farming and the identified areas for coverage.

Celeste advised field officers to seek military or police assistance in case they are denied entry.