The Cagayan State University (CSU) has donated 622 hectares of agricultural lands for distribution to landless farmers under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) 2.
CSU Vice President Fr. Ranhilio Aquino met with Department of Agrarian Reform Officials led by Secretary John R. Castriciones on September 17 where CSU official signed the deed of transfer for the government-owned agricultural land.
Present during the signing of the deed of transfer were DAR Support Services Office (SSO) Undersecretary Emily Padilla, Policy, Planning and Research Office Undersecretary Virginia Orogo, Field Operation Office Undersecretary David Erro, Special Concerns Office Carim Panumpang, SSO Assistant Secretary Milagros Isabel Cristobal, Cagayan Valley Regional Director Samuel Solomero Assistant Director Alfredo Lorenzo Jr. and Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Arthur E. Faeldon.
In a news statement, Castriciones said the signing of the deed of transfer signifies the “beginning of empowerment” of our agrarian reform beneficiaries in Cagayan.
Government-owned lands are distributed for free—which means the beneficiaries need not have to worry about the annual amortization.
Moreover, Castriciones said, DAR, the agency tasked to implement CARP, would provide the necessary support services to the recipients to make their lands productive and improve their economic lives, as well as to contribute in ensuring food security in the country.
Provincial agrarian reform officer Faeldon said the department is committed to improve the lives of the people in the countryside, the very reason why the DAR Provincial Office worked hard to make this undertaking happen.
“I requested an area of 549 hectares from CSU Lallo and 73 hectares from CSU Piat, which is the subject of the Deed of Transfer that would be covered and awarded to qualified beneficiaries under Executive Order 75. I am grateful that the officials of CSU understand the needs of our farmers and granted our request,” Faeldon said.
Executive Order 75, Series of 2019 was signed by President Duterte on February 15, 2019, directing all departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of government to identify lands owned by the government devoted to, or suitable for agriculture, for distribution to qualified beneficiaries.
During an online news conference, Erro told the BusinessMirror that some government agencies continue to defy President Duterte’s order.
He said government agencies are giving DAR the runaround when sought to transfer agricultural lands to DAR.
Moreover, Castriciones, for his part, added that the lockdowns imposed to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus that caused Covid-19 has slowed down the effort of the DAR to implement E.O. 75.
As per DAR’s own inventory, there are 217,120.98 hectares of government-owned land that can be covered under Executive Order No. 75, Series of 2019.
To date, however, out of 217,120.98 hectares identified for coverage and eventual distribution, only Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) had executed a Deed of Transfer to over 289 hectares of government lands in Davao de Oro in favor of the DAR.
“Other agencies of the government are not cooperative but the department is exerting all efforts, including legal confrontation to cover these government-owned lands,” he said.
Castriciones is confident that DAR would eventually be able to achieve its target distribution covering government-owned lands once lockdown restrictions are lifted.