DAR-7 admits it made errors in awarding lots

Department of Agriculture-7 director Datu Yusoph Mama admitted that some lots were erroneously awarded to bogus or undeserving beneficiaries.

In an interview during the recently held Provincial Assessment and Planning Workshop among the stakeholders of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, Mama admitted part of the delay of the implementation of the program is the erroneous awarding of lots to certain beneficiaries who were later found to be unqualified or bogus.

"Of course, nobody is perfect, only after the awarding when we receive complaints that the beneficiaries are bogus or are not the most qualified of all," Mama said.

Mama said in his administering as DAR-7 director some 40 to 50 CLOAs were awarded erroneously for lots with an average size of 1.5 hectares.

He said as the complaints start arriving, DAR will disqualify them and once again begin process with those who are qualified.

Mama said the mistakes in identification of beneficiaries are often committed by program partners or non-government organizations, local government officials and even from within DAR agency. He vowed to deal with erring personnel administratively.

DAR-7 covered 85 percent of the identified lands to be placed under CARP covering at most 140,000 hectares.

This year's target for the entire region is 2,400 hectares.

Currently CARP covers 52 barangays and 14 municipalities in the province of Cebu. - Ferliza C. Contratista/BRP