#Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

[carlocarrasco]

I Love Israel: Israel-DAR strategic partnership on agricultural development discussed

As some of you are already aware, I fully stand with Israel which is very connected with my uncompromising faith in the Lord. I keep on praying to Him for Israel to overwhelm its enemies, rescue the hostages and recover from the effects of the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks committed by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which is sponsored by terrorist state Iran. I can assure all of you…

[solarpunkbusiness]

Portable Solar Dryer-Grains Thermal Drying Trays (Portasol-GTDT) boost rural productivity and minimize post-harvest food waste

The solar dryers can dry up to 150 kilos of rice daily, lowering moisture content to safe storage levels.

"This will increase farmers' incomes through improved quality and reduced losses," she said.

Barcelon said the portable dryers will serve as an alternative to traditional sun-drying methods, maintaining quality while protecting products from contamination.

Photo: Members of the San Antonio Agrarian Reform Organization of Bombon town in Camarines Sur assemble the Portable Solar Dryer-Grains Thermal Drying Trays (Portasol-GTDTs) they received from the Department of Science and Technology on June 26, 2024. Portasols serve as an alternative to traditional sun-drying methods, maintaining quality while protecting rice and other food products from contamination. (Photo courtesy of DAR-Camarines Sur ll)

Source

[daphenominchief]

People v. Spouses Valenzuela [GR No. 178266 (21 July 2008)] 

The Supreme Court rules that the Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction over a criminal case for estafa involving agricultural tets, but the tets cannot be held liable due to changes in agrarian laws.

Facts:

The case "People vs. Vanzuela" involves the People of the Philippines as the petitioner and Samuel and Loreta Vanzuela as the respondents.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines decided the case on July 21, 2008, with Justice Nachura as the ponente.

The case originated from a criminal complaint for estafa filed by Veneranda S. Paler against the respondents.

The respondents were agricultural tenants on a parcel of irrigated riceland in Barangay Mabini (Roxas), Mainit, Surigao del Norte.

The land was owned by Veneranda's late husband, Dionisio Paler, Sr., and leased to the respondents for over ten years with an agreed rental of twelve and one-half cavans of palay per harvest.

The respondents allegedly failed to pay the lease rentals from 1997 to 2001.

Veneranda filed a criminal complaint after an unsuccessful attempt at an amicable settlement through the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Surigao City dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, stating it was an agrarian dispute under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB).

The petitioner sought the reversal of this dismissal, arguing that the RTC had jurisdiction over the criminal case for estafa.

Issue:

Does the Regional Trial Court (RTC) have jurisdiction over a criminal case for estafa involving agricultural tenants?

Does the exemption of agricultural tenants from criminal prosecution for estafa contravene the equal protection clause of the Constitution?

Ruling:

The Supreme Court ruled that the RTC has jurisdiction over the criminal case for estafa.

The Supreme Court held that agricultural tenants cannot be held liable for estafa due to changes in agrarian laws.

Ratio:

The Supreme Court explained that the jurisdiction of a court over the subject matter of an action is conferred by law and determined by the material allegations of the complaint or information.

The RTC has jurisdiction over criminal cases involving estafa, as provided by law.

The DARAB has no authority to try criminal cases, including estafa.

While the RTC has jurisdiction over the criminal aspect of the case, it cannot adjudicate civil matters related to agrarian disputes, which fall under the DARAB's jurisdiction.

Share tenancy, which required tenants to hold the landowner's share in trust, has been abolished and replaced by leasehold tenancy, where the tenant's obligation is merely to pay rent.

The respondents' failure to pay rent does not constitute estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.

The Court concluded that the respondents could not be held criminally liable for estafa for their failure to pay the lease rentals, as their obligation was a mere civil obligation.

The petition was denied, and the RTC's dismissal of the criminal case was upheld.

[ligaligmikeortega]

1,309 Bohol farmers now debt-free under new CARP Emancipation Act

Some 1,309 farmer-beneficiaries in Bohol are now debt-free after the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) issued Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to them, effectively canceling their outstanding loans with the Land Bank of the Philippines. The move is part of the implementation of the New CARP Emancipation Act, which aims to emancipate farmer-beneficiaries from their…

[pannaginip]

Mariing kinukundena ng Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) ang matinding pandarahas ng mga pribadong goons ng tambalang Ayala at Aguinaldo sa mga magsasaka ng Lupang Tartaria kaninang 2:00 ng madaling araw.

[KMU strongly condemns the grave violence enacted by the private army of Ayala-Aguinaldo against the farmers of Lupang Tartaria at 2am earlier.]

Marahas na pinasok ng mga armadong goons mula sa Jarton Security Agency ang kampuhan ng mamamayan ng Lupang Tartaria, sinaktan at tinutukan ng baril ang mga residente, kinuha ang kanilang mga kagamitan, at pinigilang bumalik upang kunin ang mga naiwang gamit sa kampuhan. Sinira at sinunog din ang ilang kagamitan ng mga residente, at binakuran din ng mga armadong goons ang kanilang kampuhan.

[The armed goons from Jarton Security Agency violently invaded the camp of citizens of Lupang Tartaria, hurt and pointed their guns at the citizens, seized their belongings, and prevented them from returning to retrieve the belongings left behind in the camp. Several of the residents' belongings were also destroyed and burned, and the armed goons also fenced off their camp.]

Ang Brgy. Tartaria ay bahagi ng 200-ektaryang lupa na 6 na dekada nang kinakamkam ng mga Aguinaldo para mailako ito sa mga Ayala upang pagkakitaan sa tabing ng “land development” tulad na lamang ng ginawa nila sa North Triangle.

[Brgy. Tartaria is part of a 200-hectare land that Aguinaldo have been expropriating for 60 years to sell it to Ayala to make a profit under the guise of "land development," just as they did with North Triangle.]

Sinisingil ng KMU ang Department of Agrarian Reform sa kawalan ng aksyon sa usapin ng pangangamkam ng lupa sa Brgy. Tartaria. Mula nang itindig ng mga magsasaka ang kanilang kampuhan, wala pa ring sinasabi ang departamento hinggil sa isyu sa lupa rito.

[KMU charges the DAR with inaction on the matter of the expropriation of land in Brgy. Tartaria. Since the farmers constructed their camps, the department has yet to say anything regarding these land issues.]

Nananawagan naman ang KMU sa LGU ng Brgy. Tartaria at ng Cavite na puntahan ang lugar upang tiyakin ang kaligtasan at karapatan ng mga mamamayan ng Lupang Tartaria. Hinihimok din ng KMU ang Kongreso na kagyat na maglunsad ng imbestigasyon sa nagaganap na pambabakod at pagpapalayas sa mga residente ng Lupang Tartaria.

[KMU calls on the LGU of Brgy. Tartaria and Cavite to go the site to ensure the safety and rights of the citizens of Lupang Tartaria. KMU also enjoins the Congress to immediately launch an investigation on the fencing activities and eviction of Lupang Tartaria residents.]

Nananawagan ang Kilusang Mayo Uno sa lahat ng manggagawa at mamamayan ng Timog Katagalugan na makiisa sa laban ng mga mamamayan ng Brgy. Tartaria at biguin ang malagim na tangka ng mga Ayala at Aguinaldo!

[KMU calls on every worker and citizen of Southern Tagalog to unite and fight for the citizens of Brgy. Tartaria and to thwart the nefarious intentions of Ayala-Aguinaldo]

2024 Apr. 20

[oaresearchpaper]

Marketing Abaca Fiber: Insights from Caraga Region Farmers

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the marketing practices and the profitability of establishing Abaca in the Caraga Region. A total of One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty-Six (1256) farmers, Seventy-Seven (77) traders, and three (3) processors were interviewed as the respondents of the study. Their names were obtained from the Philippine Fiber Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of the concerned municipalities of the Region. Data gathering activities included interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs), and stakeholder forums were conducted to validate and gather additional information. The said Focus Group Discussion and Stakeholders’ Forum were attended by the farmers, officers in various cooperatives, traders, representatives from the regional line offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAO), Academe, Provincial Agriculture Officer. In the Caraga Region, abaca traders are situated in Agusan del Norte 28 or 36.36%, Agusan del Sur 25 or 32.47%, Surigao del Sur 24 or 31.17% and no traders in the province of Surigao del Norte. The one who sets the price for abaca fiber is the trader/buyer 99.28 % and only 0.71% sets by the farmer. The means of contacting buyers are referrals by the farmers 32.96%; traders will come to the farmers 27.46%, recommended by the Local Government Unit (LGU) 23.88%, and traders who are known by the cooperatives 15.68%. The buyers’ requirements in buying abaca fibers are quality 63.69% and volume 36.30%. Traders engage in buying Abaca for more than 15 years or 38.5%; 1-5 years, 30.12%; 11-15 years, 18.07% and 6-10 years, 13.25%. The means of transporting abaca fiber is through motorcycles 43.37% and hired trucks 56.61%. The estimated monthly volume sold is 1- 5 metric tons or 92.77% and 6 – 10 metric tons. The farmer’s Abaca fibers through Barangay or Municipal Traders, Cooperatives/Consolidators, Baling and Grading Establishment, Processors, and exporters. The issues and concerns for the traders are the following: classification and grading of fiber, cheating abaca bundles where stones inserted to increase weights, abaca fiber not adequately dried, and piles of Abaca are mixed with other fibers. The profitability of abaca farming for 1 hectare /year is the average of P48,000 for a typical farm, while for a good farm is P115,200 – 192,000.

Introduction

The "Manila hemp," known internationally for its world-class fiber, continues to be one of the priority agricultural commodities of the Department of Agriculture (DA). The Philippines supplies more than 87.4 percent of the total abaca fiber market and earns more than $111.33 million in global abaca trade annually (PCA, 2017).

In 2022, as per PhilFIDA data, Caraga ranked third among the top abaca-producing regions in the country with an estimated 10,000 metric tons (MT) of fiber production, next to Bicol Region (1st) and Davao Region (2nd).

Abaca is in great demand in the world market today because of its lucrative value in industries such as making security papers, paper money, ropes, insulators, and other handicrafts. The most important part of the Abaca is the stalk which is the source of the fiber. Abaca fiber is superior to all other natural fibers because of its great strength and its resistance to the action of water. It is three times stronger than cotton, the most potent natural fiber. 

The country’s overall fiber production is estimated at 62,640.63MT, remaining the top abaca-producing country, supplying 85% of the fiber demand in the world.

Pulp, which accounts for 69.2 percent market share of the abaca exports, has reported earnings of $ 79.4 million or an increase of 11.7 percent. Abaca cordage, which grabbed a market share of 10 percent, fell to $ 11.4 million. Fiber crafts exports also fell 67.3% to $3.7 million (The Philippine Star, 2016). The pulp manufacturing industry is the leading end-user of abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. It was reported that due to the increasing use of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing, the demand for fiber among pulp manufacturers is constantly surging, and the trend is expected to prevail in 2014-2019. Among the leading abaca fiber suppliers, Ching Bee Trading Corporation dominates the market in the Philippines, followed by Tag Fibers, Inc. and Selinrail International. 

For the past half-decade, the Abaca industry helped boost the country’s economy from its export earnings with an annual average of P4.7 billion, mainly in the Visayas and Mindanao Islands. Abaca fibers are cultivated across 176,549 hectares of farmlands by over 122,758 farmers. Moreover, in recent years, it has been perceived that aside from the substantial contributions of Abaca to the economy, its utilization can also provide numerous ecological advantages (www.philfida.da.gov.ph, 2019).

With the continuing development of the fiber craft industry in the Philippines, the abaca fiber market has been witnessing a boost due to the growing demand for gifts, toys, and housewares. Moreover, increasing consumer inclination for lifestyle products is further expected to strengthen the growth trend for abaca crafts in the coming years. There are only two significant exporters of abaca fiber in the world – the Philippines and Ecuador, with the Philippines accounting for over 80% of the global production of abaca fiber. In the Philippines, the abaca plant is cultivated across 130 thousand hectares of land by over 90 thousand farmers. 

Asia Pacific was the largest market for abaca fiber in terms of production and consumption over the past few years, and the trend is expected to continue over the forecast period. The Philippines, the world's largest abaca producer, hold a significant market share in Asia Pacific. A considerable portion of produced abaca fiber in the Philippines is internally consumed, while a substantial amount is exported to various countries, including U.S., Japan, and other European countries. The Philippine government supports initiatives to increase high-quality abaca fiber production levels for domestic consumption and export. This is expected to strengthen its market positioning further and open market opportunities for new players over the next seven years (Erie News, 2019).

Thus, this undertaking is critical to fill the data gaps of the recently conducted Value Chain Analysis of the Commodity in the Region. Profiling tells us the actual scenario of how many abaca farmers engaged in this commodity, what support programs they availed in our present administration, what they need, and what other issues and concerns so that our government can also make some intervention programs for our abaca industry.

Major end-user industries of abaca fiber include paper and pulp, fibercraft, and cordage. The paper and pulp industry is the largest end-user industry for abaca fiber, followed by cordage manufacturing and fiber craft industry. Increasing the application scope of abaca fiber in specialty paper manufacturing is likely a critical factor driving demand for abaca fibers in the paper & pulp industry. The rising market for cordage in industrial applications, including the production of ropes for ships, is expected to boost its demand over the next seven years.

Source : Farmers practices in marketing Abaca fiber in Caraga Region

[gihunahuna]

“Kayod” by Marinel Timoteo Tungol is an entry for GSIS National Arts Competition 2021, Representational Category.

It depicts a farmer and a father's sacrifices for his family and nation amidst the pandemic.

When it comes to making sacrifices, no one is more familiar with that than a farmer and their family. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), declared the Filipino farmers as the “new heroes” as the country is facing a crisis due to the coronavirus disease. Amidst the health crisis, Filipino farmers still struggled to provide food not just at their family's table but for the whole nation. 

The vaccine can cure Covid-19 but not hunger.

Source:

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4080230925357666&set=gm.3290953691135491

[phgq]

Support service facilities to spur economic gains among ARBs

#PHinfo: Support service facilities to spur economic gains among ARBs

SAN JOSE, Antique , Jan. 24 (PIA) -- Agrarian reform beneficiaries are expected to boost their farm economic activities with the help of the support facilities from the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

DAR Antique Provincial Office recently turned over an estimated P5 million worth of hauling trucks as marketing support to three agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs).

Department of Agrarian Reform regional director lawyer Sheila Enciso and PARPO II Florentino Siladan spearhead the turn over and MOA signing ceremony of hauling trucks which served as marketing support facility to identified agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) in Antique. (pia6-LML)

“Ang ini-expect po natin sa mga ARBs after receiving these facilities ay mapa-igi po nila ang kanilang pagnenegosyo kasi yun nga po ang binibuild natin sa kanila hindi lang po ang pagtatanim kundi maging po sila ay maging entrepreneurs,” DAR regional director Sheila Enciso said.

Under the project Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS), the Tigmamale Agrarian Reform Cooperative received a delivery truck which is timely in their production and trading of peanuts and palay.

Meanwhile, a mini delivery truck was turned over to the Barbaza Farmers and Irrigators Association (BFIA) through the Linking Small Holder Farmers to Market (LinkSFarM) project.

Presently, BFIA is comprised of 708 members, most of whom are farmers engaged in palay trading.

The Sta. Ana-San Joaquin Agrarian Reform Cooperative (SASJ ARC) in the town of Pandan, on the other hand, got a delivery truck under the Component 1 of the PaSSOver: ARBold move for the Deliverance of our farmers from COVID 19 Pandemic project.

While support services are being provided, Enciso encouraged ARBs to be independent and learn how to stand on their own.

 “Yun pong lupa na binigay sa inyo ng gobyerno ay pagyamanin, ‘wag isangla, bagkus, ay taniman. Magkaroon kayo ng proper planning para pong itong truck na ito ay araw araw magkakaroon ng delivery na manggaling jan sa inyong mga tinanim,” the regional director advised.

For his part, Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Florentino Siladan said that DAR has been instrumental in offering support services and projects to the ARBs to highlight their importance for ensuring food security in the country.

“The farmers have experienced the brunt brought by the pandemic, successive typhoons, drought, and cheap imported rice, thus, the farmers deserve all the support that we could provide,” Siladan said. (JBG/LML-PIA6 Antique)

***

References:

* Philippine Information Agency. "Support service facilities to spur economic gains among ARBs." Philippine Information Agency. https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1064669 (accessed January 24, 2021 at 08:27AM UTC+08).

* Philippine Infornation Agency. "Support service facilities to spur economic gains among ARBs." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1064669 (archived).

[misseveningmists]

Journal #003

How were the Aquinos able to keep their large track of land of more than 7 hectares?

The Aquinos were able to keep their large track of land due to frequent changes in the leadership of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). As a result, there was a lack of focus on priority programs and projects. Besides that, this administration has shown no serious commitment to completing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

This has resulted in accusations of a lack of political will and genuine commitment, which has had fatal consequences for over 1.1 million farmers who are still fighting for their rightful access to land. Furthermore, several other sectors have also complained about the administration's slowness in acquiring and distributing privately owned lands.

Reference/s:

Madrigal, F. (2016, September 2). History of agrarian reform. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/FayeMadrigal1/history-of-agrarian-reform

HRH Oslo. (2012, June 19). Agrarian reform paralysed under President Aquino. Retrieved from https://humanrightshouse.org/articles/agrarian-reform-paralysed-under-president-aquino/

[felicityxflores]

How were the Aquinos able to keep their large tract of land of more than 7 hectares?

The Aquinos were able to keep their large tract of land due to constant changes in Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) leadership. This led to a lack of focus on priority programs and projects. Also, the Aquino administration’s performance in land distribution is the poorest because of a major budgetary shortfall due to low remittances from the Asset Privatization Trust and the Presidential Commission on Good Government. In addition, Aquino has not demonstrated any serious commitment to completing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). This apparent lack of political will has fatal consequences for more than 1.1 million farmers who are still struggling for their rightful access to land. Furthermore, as Ninoy Aquino and his family were leaving for exile in the US, a case was filed on May 7, 1980, by the Marcos government against the Cojuangco company TADECO for the surrender of Hacienda Luisita to the Ministry of Agrarian Reform so the land could be distributed to the farmers at cost. However, after multiple follow-ups, it did not result in land distribution. Cory Aquino made promises to give "land to the tiller". Cojuangco family members managing the hacienda during this time believed that if Cory became president, Hacienda Luisita would once and for all be distributed to the farmers through her land reform program. He said this promise was made to motivate them to vote for Cory and join the jeepney-loads of people being sent to Manila from Tarlac to attend her rallies. This campaign promise would haunt her for many years to come. The Aquino family kept their large tract of land of more than 7 hectares due to their history of greed and deception.

References:

Dychiu, S. (2010, January 18). Hacienda Luisita's Past Haunts Noynoy's Future. Retrieved fromhttp://realpolitiker.weebly.com/special-reports/hacienda-luisita-a-history-of-deception#sthash.mHhZL1Y7.dpbs

Madrigal, F. (2016, September 2). History of Agrarian Reform. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/FayeMadrigal1/history-of-agrarian-reform

HRH Oslo. (2012, June 19). Agrarian Reform Paralyzed Under President Aquino. Retrieved from https://humanrightshouse.org/articles/agrarian-reform-paralysed-under-president-aquino/

[amethystbubbly]

How were the Aquinos able to keep their large track of land of more than 7 hectares?

So according Secretary of Agrarian Reform Virgilio de los Reyes, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was able to acquire and distribute 219,069 hectares of land around the nation in the first two years of President Benigno S. Aquino III's administration. This is certainly not the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program's lowest achievement by any means (CARP). Due to the ambiguities caused by the process of putting Republic Act No. 9700 into effect, the distribution of land at that time was at its lowest ever, at 59,495 hectares, in 2009. The second-lowest amount, reported in 2003, was 97,795 hectares.

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) distributed 111,889 hectares of land across the country in just one year, which is a little more than the 107,180 hectares distributed in 2010. With a gross achievement rate of 60%, the DAR completed the acquisition of 18,414 landholdings totaling 120,286 hectares. 8,397 hectares of this area are excluded from the same landholding and are held in the possession of different landowners. Thus, 61,755 recipients of the agricultural reform program received 111,889 hectares in total.

The remaining territory, known as the LAD balance (Land Acquisition and Distribution balance), is made up of 107,639 landholdings and totals 961,974 hectares. Private agricultural land makes up about 93.58 percent of the LAD balance (900,188 hectares), and about 85% of the LAD Balance (816,491 hectares) is LBP-compensable. The difficulty lies there. Prior successes were mostly the result of "simple" acquisitions, such as government-owned land, voluntary land transfers, and voluntary offers to sell. These are the easier and less divisive to distribute. But as of right now, compulsory acquisition will be used to cover 62% (596,036 hectares) of the remaining LAD (CA). The difficulty lies there.

187,959 hectares of the LAD remainder are the Phase 3B lands. Only the period of July 2013 to June 2014 is applicable. Phase 3A lands encompass 217,639 hectares, and they can only be covered from July 2012 to June 2013. However, during this time only Phase 3A lands larger than 10 hectares can be covered. This limits the time period during which 163,660 hectares of Phase 3A lands may be covered to July 2013 to June 2014. Thus, only the final year of CARPER (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014) may cover the remaining 351,619 hectares of the LAD (37%).

From February to May 2012, days were set for the mass processing of claims folders. These “claim folder days” are meant to analyze individual landholdings targeted for acquisition in order to track its progress and address problems. This will enable the DAR to institute global solutions to problems delaying the LAD process. This mass processing of all claim folders had never been done before. Data from these claim folder processing is being processed and will be utilized to craft specific measures to address specific types of problems.

[psychemae7]

How were the Aquinos able to keep their large track of land of more than 7 hectares?

Journal#4

Despite significant challenges, agrarian reform is moving forward under the Aquino administration. The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) acquired and distributed 219,069 hectares of land throughout the country during President Benigno S. Aquino III's first two years, according to Secretary of Agrarian Reform Virgilio de los Reyes. This is far from the worst achievement in the history of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Because of the uncertainties caused by the transition to implementing Republic Act No. 9700, the lowest recorded distribution was 59,495 hectares of land distributed in 2009. The second-lowest total was 97,795 hectares in 2003. Since taking office, Aquino has shown no serious commitment to completing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which his late mother, Corazon Aquino, enacted and is now known as CARPER. Furthermore, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the agency tasked with implementing CARPER, is falling far short of its official target of distributing 220,000 hectares per year. This apparent lack of political will has deadly consequences for the more than 1.1 million farmers who continue to struggle for their rightful access to land. Peasant leaders have been assassinated in recent years by armed goons hired by landlords. Rural communities are also threatened with eviction from lands they have worked for generations, as well as decision reversals and land conversions. I believe that holding a high position (e.g., president) was one of the Aquinos' methods of preserving their lands.

[kylenemarie]

How were the Aquinos able to keep their large track of land of more than 7 hectares?

Journey #4

Making use of the "bogus" Agrarian Reform Law

Virgilio delos Reyes, the Secretary of Agrarian Reform, admitted that the DAR's list was based on the HLI management's list of 6,296 people, the MOA list from 1989, and other documents with probative value. According to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), even the stable staff of the Australia-bred horses owned by the Cojuangcos was named among the recipients but genuine farm workers were removed from the list.

Additionally, farmers must pay amortization payments and landlords must be compensated "fairly," according to CARP. Farmers Undertaking and Application to Purchase (Apfu) forms have to be signed by farmworker-beneficiaries in order to get land allocation certificates (LAC). According to a previous press release from DAR, "the farmer-beneficiaries' willingness to comply with his/her obligation under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, which is to (a) cultivate the farm lots assigned to them, (b) pay the amortization based on the lands' assessed value as well as the real estate taxes, and (c) desist from engaging in prohibited acts, manifests in the signing of the undertaking."

2. Refusing to respect collective ownership

The Alyansa ng Manggagawang Bukid sa Asyenda Luisita (Ambala) has been up front with the DAR about the farmworker beneficiaries' desire for community ownership. The farmers' association has developed a system for distributing agricultural lots to farmworker beneficiaries since commencing its bungkalan (tillage) campaign in 2005.

3. Reducing the size of land for distribution

The first step is the land survey. According to the high court's ruling on July 5, 2011, there should be 4,915.75 hectares total available for allocation. The DAR calculated the overall land area to be just 4,099 hectares after omitting residential areas, canals, roads, firebreaks, a cemetery, buffer zones, lagoons, fishponds, degraded areas, and legal easements. In its petition to the high court, Ambala argued that the stock distribution option (SDO) program had already exempted the aforementioned areas such as residential, canals, roads, firebreaks, a cemetery, buffer zones, lagoons, fishponds, eroded areas, and legal easements from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law in 1989. It shouldn't be taken away from the lands that are available for distribution again.

References:

Olea, R. V. (2013, December 23). 5 ways Cojuangco-Aquinos evade land distribution in Luisita. Retrieved from

benign0. (2011, November 7). Facts Filipinos never wanted to know about the Aquinos and Cojuangcos. Retrieved from

[smrbhagare97]

Agrarian reform beneficiaries to get aid in accessing markets

Agrarian reform beneficiaries to get aid in accessing markets

THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said it is planning to strengthen the links between agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and their markets, particularly for those growing rice, corn, coconut, and livestock. In a statement, the DAR said it also plans to digitize its land database. “It’s about time that we further strengthen market linkage for our ARBs through the value chain so that they…

[phgq]

P68-M bridge, FMR benefit NoCot farmers

#PHnews: P68-M bridge, FMR benefit NoCot farmers

COTABATO CITY – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) turned over a PHP68.9-million bridge and farm-to-market road project Thursday afternoon, benefiting farmers in Carmen town's remote villages, North Cotabato. Engr. Reynaldo Anfone, provincial agrarian reform program officer, said the project included the rehabilitation of a nine-kilometer farm-to-market road with the Negan bridge covering Barangays Cadiis and Macabenban. “We understand the predicament of our farmers in bringing their farm products to the market during harvest time, most especially during the rainy season,” Anfone said, adding the project is under the Mindanao Sustainable, Agrarian, and Agriculture Development (MinSAAD) Project. In the past, he said that the difficult roads in the area cost stiff transportation expenses that added to the farmers' burden. “Now, the farmers will no longer worry traversing about bumpy and slippery roads going to the market,” he said. Norola Aliudin, the chairperson of Cadiis village, said the farmers’ reaction was visibly obvious and that they all volunteered to plant trees beside the road to prevent soil erosion. This project, according to Aliudin, would encourage farmers to produce and earn more. “We are grateful for entrusting the maintenance of the project to us. We assure you that we will take good care of it by planting trees along the roadside, especially those in the sloppy portions to prevent erosion,” Aliudin said. Carmen Mayor Moises Arendain, North Cotabato Vice-Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza, Rep. Jose Tejada also vowed to provide the necessary assistance to make farmers even more productive. DAR implemented the project in close collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways and the local government of Carmen. (PNA)

***

References:

* Philippine News Agency. "P68-M bridge, FMR benefit NoCot farmers ." Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122453 (accessed November 21, 2020 at 02:25AM UTC+14).

* Philippine News Agency. "P68-M bridge, FMR benefit NoCot farmers ." Archive Today. https://archive.ph/?run=1&url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1122453 (archived).