DAR goes to cyberspace

To effectively promote its nationwide campaign on transparency and good governance, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DA) will be harnessing the power of information and communications technology (ICT).

Agrarian Reform Secretary Hernani Braganza said DAR will be entering cyberspace to fast-track the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) through delivery of security of land tenure, equal dispensation of social justice and support services.

"The website is aimed at promoting transparency and good governance through ICT and the internet. This is in line with the national vision of wider access to information and faster and efficient delivery of government service to the public," he said.

DAR recently launched its website multi-sectoral project accessed at www.dar.gov.ph during the 14th anniversary of CARP in Clark Field Pampanga.

The website provides information on task forces Salin-Lupa, Katarungunan, Bayan-anihan, Modernization and Kapayapaan as well as agrarian reform maps, a legal library, online service, DAR activities and other information compiled in a database bank.

The agrarian reform maps are digitized maps of locations of successful agrarian reform communities. The website has a sophisticated search and retrieval system for accessibility to research legal materials on agrarian reform, guidelines and policies of CARP coverage, and resolutions of provincial and municipal agrarian reform adjudication boards.

The website was established and realized through pooling of technical experts within and outside DAR.

Braganza said the DAR website will be of big help to farmers’ groups and non-government organizations, researchers and students and the general public.

He said the ICT program will enhance efficiency and productivity among employees and drum up general public participation in the commitment of DAR to speed up an equitable distribution of wealth in the countryside.