PROVINCIAL Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia said yesterday the order of President Rodrigo Duterte for a moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands is in “conflict" with the memorandum of the Department of Agriculture (DA) calling for the local government to continue their food security programs.
He said that the Negros First Ranch is part of the province's food security program but the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is opposing it.
“How could we pursue food security?” Valencia asked.
He appealed that the two departments should talk it over so the local
government units will not be caught in between.
Moreover, Valencia said this was also raised in their appeal to the Office of the President over the recent decision of Agriculture Secretary Rafael Mariano, who denied the Capitol’s Motion for exclusion from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).
The case involves three parcels of lands with an aggregate area of 159.46 hectares located at Barangays Sta. Rosa and Canlandog in Murcia, which is now occupied by the Negros First Ranch.
“It is the DA which said that land conversion will be held in abeyance in favor of food security because their lands were converted into subdivisions and industrial areas, which will affect food security,” Valencia said.
“We still maintain that there was no valid notice of coverage,” he stressed.
Even Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Teresita Mabunay confirmed that the 97 hectares, which the farmers claimed, was rejected when it was voluntarily offered for conversion.
“How could you proceed with identifying beneficiaries if there is no valid notice?” he asked.
Moreover, Valencia said that he welcomes the resolution of Provincial Board (PB) to support their petition.
“All actions are with the authority of the PB,” Valencia said.
He said they will exhaust all administrative remedies before bringing the matter to the Supreme Court.
“I would have wanted to go directly to the Court of Appeals or the SC as I believe it is an issue of law. But we have to do the process,” he said.
All things are still possible, Valencia added.