DEPARTMENT of Agrarian (DAR) Secretary Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano told farmers Wednesday, September 7, that he has directed authorities to check the situation of land beneficiaries and look into the inventory of conversion orders.
Speaking to DAR officials and farmers’ groups, Mariano said the DAR and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are conducting consultations to identify land already reclassified by local government units from agricultural to industrial, commercial, or residential but which have nevertheless remained idle.
Mariano said although local governments, under the Local Government Code section 20, can authorize reclassifying agricultural lands into industrial, commercial, or residential, it should serve its purpose.
"Kung napag-alaman po natin na may na-reclassify na lupang agrikultural sa ibang gamit at mapapatunayang naging idle or abandon o hindi na-develop into what it is supposed to be, abay pwede ba nilang mabalik ito sa klasipikasyong agrikultural, (If we find out that there are agricultural lands that are currently idle, abandoned or otherwise not developed into what it is supposed to be, we can reclassify it as agricultural)" he said.
"Baka sa 4.7 million na naipamahagi na sa panahon pa ni Marcos ay hindi na tayo sigurado kung andoon pa ba ang mga beneficiaries at sinasaka nila ang kanilang lupain," he adds.
Mariano said he has also ordered the review of leasehold and stock distribution arrangements between landowners and tenants.
"Pinarerepasyo yung mga umiiral na mga kontrata yung katulad as Hacienda Luicita na stock distribution na pinawalang-bisa na sana ng Supreme Court nang malaman natin ang kalagayan ng mga magsasaka," he adds.
A militant peasant leader before he took on the job as DAR secretary, Mariano also called on legislators to repeal existing agrarian laws and programs which he said have inherent flaws, limitations, and imperfections.
Some 330 farmers from the municipalities of Maramag, Pangantucan, Talakag, Lantapan, in Bukidnon received 700 hectares awarded by DAR through a Certificate of Land Ownership while 155 other farmers from Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte was awarded 187 land hectare.