Wednesday, November 12, 2008 DAR installs ARBs in Cadiz hacienda
A TOTAL of 157 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), regardless of affiliations, in Hacienda Cana-an, Barangay Mabini in Cadiz City, were installed in the Carp-covered landholding of El Sansi Agro Development Corporation.
Spearheading the activity were Paro I Dr. Gideon Yongque Jr. and Maro of Cadiz City, Dr. Enrique Paderes. These ARBs belonging to Mara, Paraiso Foods Processing Corporation (PFPC) and Task Force Mapalad were allocated specific lots for them to cultivate in accordance with their members.
These were all agreed after a series of dialogues and conferences with Paro II Teresita Depeñoso and Maro Paderes, among others, with the three groups.
From the total area of 127.0059 hectares, around 112.2562 hectares were acquired and embraced by Cloa 876, and the remaining portion of 14.7497 is subject for subsequent acquisition for valuation by the Land Bank of the Philippines.
In a ceremony, the ARBs were informed that they can now take over possession and start the cultivation on vacant/harvested areas on specified lots allocated to them; respect the standing crops of the former landowner, and after harvest they can immediately take over. ARBs were also reminded of their obligations with Land Bank of the Philippines for their land amortization and their taxes due the local government unit.
Selling of rights, subleasing or any other form of violations that would lead to abandonment of the Cloa holder of his or her awarded land, has an equivalent penalty and sanctions under the Agrarian Reform laws. This has been one of the issues raised by opposing parties, especially in the Carp extension bill, which is now under deliberation by Congress.
"Peaceful turnover to ARBs of Carp-covered lands is what the DAR is aiming and doing. All parties affected are being called to settle issues. However, there are still unsatisfied and unreasonable people who want to make an issue out of nothing, and whatever their motives are, only them and the concerned public knows. Protest rallies that destroyed, painted and vandalized the gate of Darpo is an action that can't be tolerated," the DAR statement said.
"As of now, there are pending criminal cases filed by DAR against leaders and members of Task Force Mapalad. Moreover, DAR continues its activities as per directives from the Secretary, and is still hoping, together with our partners in Carp implementation, for the extension of the program beyond 2008," it added.
