Angie Manubag, DAR Central Visayas information officer, said at least 8,105 hectares were distributed to beneficiaries last year in the region under the leadership of DAR regional director Datu Yusoph Mama. Of these, 13 new Agrarian Reform Communities were formed.
Oriental Negros has the bulk of the lands being distributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program covering 4,824 hectares. It is followed by Cebu province where 1,840 hectares were distributed.
Bohol beneficiaries were given 1,309 hectares while the Siquijor beneficiaries received 132 hectares.
Leasehold distribution on the other hand covered 878 hectares in the entire region.
Land Tenure Improvement has two modalities that provide landless farmers security of land tenure and leasehold.
Under the leasehold scheme, farmers tilling the lands are assured of land security through the leasehold agreement.
Under the agreement, Manubag said, farmers are entitled to 75 percent of the net harvest after deducting production expenses, while the landowner gets 25 percent of the net harvest as rental for the use of land.
Under the program Agrarian Justice, at least 914 cases were resolved covering 2,962 hectares of land and affecting 250 agrarian reform beneficiaries.
DAR had extended legal assistance to 85 cases resolved in judicial courts, which benefited 28 agrarian reform beneficiaries of the more than 40 hectares. There were 647 cases resolved in quasi-judicial courts affecting 121 beneficiaries.
President Corazon Aquino signed into law the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law in June 1989. - Ferliza C. Contratista