Agrarian beneficiaries welcome deferment of Mariano's confirmation

AGRARIAN farmer-beneficiaries in Negros Occidental welcomed the deferment of the confirmation of Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano by the bicameral Commission on Appointments (CA) Wednesday, August 30.

The hearing was suspended and moved to September 5 to allow the members from both chambers of the Congress to process and digest information and issues that cropped up during the deliberation.

Joel Nocheto, spokesperson of ECJ Cloa Holders and Farmworkers Association-Task Force Mapalad Negros, said although there was no confirmation yet, they favor the deferment with hopes that it will give enough time for the CA to weigh the issues hounding Mariano’s appointment.

Earlier Wednesday, about 300 farmer-members of the organization trooped to the DAR-Negros Occidental I office in Bacolod City and staged a prayer rally in support of Mariano’s confirmation.

They brought with them banners with messages like “Ka Paeng Tunay na Palaban at Makabayan.”

Nocheto said they are praying for the enlightenment of the CA so that the “real” implementation of the genuine agrarian reform program will continue.

“It is better deferred than rejected,” he said, adding that they remain optimistic for the confirmation of Mariano.

The group pointed out that under Mariano’s leadership, the land acquisition and distribution program was given due attention.

Other notable works of the DAR Secretary included personally hearing out the concerns of the farmers by holding dialogues which the previous administration failed to do, they added.

“Ka Paeng is pro-people and he has the heart for the poor," Nocheta said, adding that while waiting for the next schedule of the hearing, the group will continue to call for support for his confirmation.

The DAR-Negros I is also backing the move of agrarian reform beneficiaries in the province.

Provincial Agrarian Reform officer I Mila Flores Wednesday said Mariano's confirmation will allow him to continue the “changes” he has started.

These include reforms in the implementing guidelines of land acquisition and distribution where top officials like the DAR secretary are really talking directly to the stakeholders.

Flores also said Mariano is really ensuring that while more lands are up for distribution there should be an inventory of those previously acquired to check if the farmer-recipients have sustained their lands or not.

“His non-confirmation, if ever, would be a big loss to the agency. The possible reorganization it may bring would take us to go back to zero as far as implementation of some programs is concerned,” she added.