The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Calabarzon bares promising plans for farmers now that Republic Act No. 11593 or the “New Agrarian Emancipation Act” is in force.
This came out of the newest “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” episode hosted by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Calabarzon last June 25.
Present for the discussion were DAR Undersecretary for Support Services Office Rowena Niña Taduran, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary of Office for Mindanao Affairs Amihilda Sangcopan, and DAR Calabarzon Assistant Secretary and Concurrent Regional Director Mcdonald Galit.
The main focus of the episode, in which DAR served as the focus agency, was the New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
“It was enacted to liberate ang ating mga magsasaka sa pagbabayad ng amortization. Bago po ito nilagdaan at naging batas, nagkaroon po tayo ng moratorium na sinuspinde natin ang pagbabayad ng taun-taong amortization para sa kanilang lupa,” Galit explained.
This new law will benefit around 610,054 Filipino farmers with more than 1.7 million hectares of agrarian reform lands, freeing them from P57.65 billion worth of agrarian loan arrears.
“Tungkol po sa aming nagawa na po, kami po ay tapos na sa tinatawag na validation process na kung saan vinalidate namin lahat ng mabibiyayaan ng tinatawag nating CoCRoM (Certificate of Condonation with Release of Mortgage).” he added.
According to Galit, they have validated a total of 15,725 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) with over 22,000 hectares of land all waiting for a CoCRom.
What’s the difference?
Asked by the media how this law can assure farmers that it will be different from previously failed agrarian reform programs, Galit answered, “gaya ng sinabi ko kanina yung New Emancipation Act natin, it covers all agricultural lands acquired by the government, under various agrarian reform laws sakop na po dyan yung binanggit niyong mga batas.”
“Dito wala na pong babayaran ang ating mga magsasaka, libre na po sila at magagamit pa po nila na instead ibabayad, magagamit pa nila yon sa ibang pangangailangan nila,” he added.
However, a member of the media reported that in a certain region outside Calabarzon, some Barangay Agrarian Reform Councils (BARCs) demand money from farmers which Galit said they will investigate.
Prohibition on selling lands
Another challenge that DAR had faced before was the issue of farmers selling lands given to them by the government.
To counter this, the new law covers a prohibitory period where farmers who will sell their land within this period will be disqualified and DAR will look for another qualified ARB.
In case a seller already paid for the land, DAR will recognize the transaction as void.
“Ang pinapakiusap lang namin sa ARBs na sana po ay pangalagaan po ninyo ang inyong mga lupa. Ito po ay patunay na inyo na ang mga lupa may inaantay na lang tayong mga proseso,” Galit said.
To add, the Support Services Office will offer support programs such as farm machinery, storage facilities, farm-to-market roads, and more.
As good as it sounds, farmers should ask one important question: "Will it come true?”
#WeTakeAStand #DAR #NewAgrarianEmancipationAct #BARCs