THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Eastern Visayas recently turned over a three-hectare lot intended for socialized housing exclusively for the former members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Samar.
DAR-Eastern Visayas Director Robert Anthony Yu said 144 houses are set to be constructed on the said property in Barangay Catigawan, Pinabacdao for the Peace and Prosperity Village in the area.
“The DAR’s effort in achieving social justice does not end in the provision of land for socialized housing, the department would continue to distribute farm lots to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs), which will include rebel returnees,” DAR said in a statement.
In Leyte province, DAR also started the processing for the distribution of 91.6-hectare agricultural land to 458 ARBs, including 262 former rebels, in Barangay Daja Dak in San Isidro town.
“This area will soon be distributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP),” said DAR Eastern Visayas Assistant Director for Operations Renato Badilla.
The distribution of land is also part of the DAR and the Leyte province’s commitment to the national government’s whole-of-nation approach to end local insurgency problems.