ABOUT 1,153-hectares (has.) of the Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (Siplas) in Siargao, Surigao del Norte, are now covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently signed a deed of transfer paving the way for the coverage of the said portion of Siplas under CARP by virtue of Executive Order 75 (series of 2019).
DENR Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo and DAR Caraga Regional Director Leomides R. Villareal led the signing of the deed of transfer.
Based on the review and findings of the DAR validation committee, some portions of the Siplas are considered alienable and disposable (A&D) agricultural government-owned land (GOL) under the DENR and are no longer actually used for its purpose.
These assessed lands can, therefore, be covered under the CARP, through EO 75, subject to final delineation and precise survey.
Villareal received the deed of transfer containing an aggregate area of 1,153.3644 has. of land in the municipalities of Del Carmen, General Luna, Pilar, San Isidro, Burgos, and Socorro.
The Siplas is the largest marine protected area in the Philippines. It contains an approximate area of 278,914.131 hectares as a protected landscape and seascape.
On October 10, 1996, the terrestrial, wetland and marine areas of Siargao and its surrounding islets in the northeastern part of Mindanao, province of Surigao del Norte, were declared as a protected area under the category of protected landscape and seascape, through Proclamation 902 issued by then President Fidel V. Ramos.
EO 75, signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in February, 2019, directed all government instrumentalities to identify idle lands owned by the government suitable for agricultural purposes that will be distributed to qualified beneficiaries of the CARP.
After the transfer is completed, the DAR will proceed with the process of land acquisition and distribution.
Qualified beneficiaries for the Siplas portion covered by CARP are: farmers, tillers, or farmworkers who are landless or who own less than three hectares of agricultural lands; Filipino citizens; residents of the barangay (or the municipality if there are not enough qualified beneficiaries in the barangay) where the landholding is located; at least 15 years of age at the time of identification, screening and selection of the farmer-beneficiaries; and, with willingness, aptitude and ability to cultivate and make the land as productive as possible as provided under Section 22 of Republic Act 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law), as amended.