DAR pushes for stronger collaboration with PNP, AFP

BACOLOD. (From left) Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Romeo Baleros, DAR-Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso and 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Benedict Arevalo lead the Memorandum of Understanding signing at the Resorts Negrense in Bacolod City Friday, November 29, 2019. (Contributed Photo)
BACOLOD. (From left) Negros Occidental Provincial Police Director Romeo Baleros, DAR-Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso and 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Benedict Arevalo lead the Memorandum of Understanding signing at the Resorts Negrense in Bacolod City Friday, November 29, 2019. (Contributed Photo)

IN A bid to further strengthen partnership and collaboration, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Western Visayas has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Negros Occidental.

The signing held at the Resorts Negrense in Bacolod City on Friday, November 29, was led by DAR-Western Visayas Regional Director Sheila Enciso, Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office Director Romeo Baleros and 303rd Infantry Brigade Commander Benedict Arevalo.

The DAR, in a statement, said the agency has always recognized the vital role of the development partners in the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).

By virtue of Executive Order (EO) No. 70, DAR-Negros Occidental II is continuously strengthening its partnership with its partners.

This is through various engagements under the Provincial, Municipal and City Inter-Agency Carp Implementing Team.

The agency said that starting August 2019, DAR-Negros Occidental II covering the southern part of the province has mobilized coordination with the AFP and PNP to address issues and concerns of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

Several conferences, seminars and training sessions have been conducted both at the provincial and field level to ensure social justice and amity in the rural communities, it added.

The recently-signed MOU was crafted and based on the Joint DAR-DILG-DND Circular No. 05 dated June 10, 2002.

The agreement underscores the different roles and responsibilities of each participating party.

It provided the mutual coordination of all parties in the implementation of the program for the benefit of the farmer-beneficiaries and all other stakeholders.

For the PNP, Baleros assured their support to the department as he stressed the pursuit for an insurgency-free province by June 2022.

Arevalo, likewise, expressed the AFP’s support to the DAR.

“The DAR-AFP-PNP partnership’s ultimate weapon is not arms or brute strength but the truth,” he said, adding that “true service and truthful words will awaken the Filipino people to the lies and deception of leftist parties, and ultimately win the battle against insurgency.”

Enciso, for her part, said that while they cannot promise to fully accomplish land distribution and end insurgency during their tenure, the agency is constantly doing measures to help end “conflicts” in the province.

She encouraged the DAR personnel to be brave in the conduct of their duties and responsibilities.

“They should do their part by ensuring proper identification of farmer-beneficiaries and strictly implementing agrarian laws,” Enciso added.

EO No. 70 Series of 2018 institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach as government policy for attainment of inclusive and sustainable peace.

It intends to address the root causes of insurgencies, internal disturbances and tensions and other armed conflicts and threats by prioritizing and harmonizing the delivery of basic services and social development packages by the government, and ensure active participation of all sectors of the society in the pursuit of the country’s peace agenda.

DAR-Negros Occidental II has expressed optimism that through the MOU, the program’s vision can be attained.

This is for a just, safe and equitable society that upholds the rights of the farmer-beneficiaries to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands, and improve their quality of lives towards Agrarian Reform Rural Development and national industrialization.

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