MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has expressed optimism that the preliminary masterlist of farmworker-beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita will be made available to the public before the end of this month.
“Even the preliminary masterlist will be made available to the public so that interested parties, particularly farmers’ groups and civil society groups, may scrutinize the list,” Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes said.
The DAR began the process of beneficiaries’ identification, screening and validation with a massive information campaign in the 10 barangays of Hacienda Luisita last May 18 – a week after the department received a copy of the final and executory decision of the Supreme Court ordering the distribution of the country’s biggest sugar plantation to farmworkers who were tilling the land on Nov. 21, 1989.
De los Reyes explained that the preliminary masterlist of potential beneficiaries would still be subjected to an inclusion-exclusion process, where interested parties may appeal to be included or request the exclusion of certain individuals on the list.
He noted that this stage is the most contentious part, given the fact that a number of potential beneficiaries could be stricken off the list if it is proven that they were not working on the hacienda on Nov. 21,1989 – the date prescribed by the Supreme Court.
A total of 8,550 potential beneficiaries took part in a series of interviews conducted by DAR personnel at basketball courts and elementary schools in the 10 barangays of Hacienda Luisita starting May.
Aside from identification of farmer-beneficiaries, the public bidding for a qualified land surveyor has also been conducted.
De los Reyes likewise stressed that determination of just compensation for landowners does not stop or delay land distribution. He allayed fears of several farmworkers’ groups that the valuation process in Hacienda Luisita could delay the distribution of land to beneficiaries.
“We can proceed with the land distribution even if the valuation is contested by the landowners or the farmer-beneficiaries. That is the law,” the DAR chief said.
Under the law, the Land Bank of the Philippines is mandated to determine the value of agricultural land covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. The valuation may be contested, either by the landowners or the beneficiaries, through the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB). The parties concerned may even elevate the issue to the courts in case of appeal.
However, De los Reyes noted that questioning the valuation before the DARAB or the courts would not prevent the DAR from proceeding with the land distribution pending the ruling on the issue.
“The farmer-beneficiaries will get the land regardless of the value pegged by the DARAB or the courts,” he said.