6,296 Luisita beneficiaries listed

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) yesterday posted the final master list of beneficiaries who will be awarded parcels of land from more than 4,000 hectares of Hacienda Luisita.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes led the posting of the master list in Barangay Mapalacsiao in Tarlac City where a total of 6,296 farm workers were included. The list will be posted in 10 barangays in Hacienda Luisita.

De los Reyes said the DAR used as basis the list of Hacienda Luisita Inc. (HLI), which contained the names of farmers repeatedly mentioned in the Supreme Court decision on the case; the list referred to by farmers’ groups in a memorandum of agreement, and other documents.

In finalizing the master list, the DAR said they were guided solely by substantial evidence.

De los Reyes said 6,212 in the list were the ones who had approached the DAR and were verified to be employees in Hacienda Luisita since 1989.

“So far, we have not met any opposition on the list that we posted,” he said.

DAR added the segregation of agricultural infrastructure not covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform law such as roads, canals, and similar structures is in full compliance with the SC ruling on the case.

Once titles are distributed, the DA and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) will help deliver support services to the beneficiaries, De los Reyes said.

He said the farmworker beneficiaries cannot sell the land within 10 years after the distribution of Certificate of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs).

Aside from the land distribution, the SC also ordered HLI to pay the beneficiaries P1,330,511,500 to include the P500 million received by HLI for the sale of 200 hectares out of the 500 hectares covered by an Aug. 14, 1996 conversion order; P750 million received by HLI’s subsidiary, Centenary Holdings, Inc. for the sale of the remaining 300 hectares from the 500-hectare land; and P80,511,500 paid by the government for the sale of the 80.51-hectare lot used for the construction of the SCTEx (Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway) road network.

DAR also denied allegations it is railroading the processes related to the SC ruling.

The DAR said it has been transparent in all aspects, even conducting consultations with all parties involved in the Hacienda Luisita case, including the process of selecting the accounting firm to conduct the special purpose audit on HLI and Centenary Holdings, Inc.

“The fact that all parties are being consulted to agree on both the criteria for the selection of and the terms of reference for the work to be rendered by the accounting firm show that no railroading is taking place,” De los Reyes.

The agreement for all parties to approve both the criteria and the terms of reference was arrived at during the last meeting attended by representatives of the parties last Jan. 25, shown by the minutes taken of the proceedings.

All the groups present during the consultation meeting were even assured that they would be consulted every step of the way, and their participation will be guaranteed.

“While the positions taken by Alyansa ng mga Manggagawa sa Asyenda Luisita (AMBALA) during the consultation meetings will be duly considered in the finalization of the process, the DAR is duty-bound to get the consensus of the other parties as required by the Supreme Court decision,” De los Reyes said.

The groups AMBALA, United Luisita Workers Union (ULWU) and the Unyon ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura (UMA), accused DAR of railroading the auditing process on HLI.

They said DAR chose an auditing firm identified with President Aquino’s family to audit the Cojuangco-controlled HLI.

HLI spokesman Antonio Ligon, meanwhile, expressed confidence in DAR’s efforts to resolve the dispute.

“We presume regularity in the conduct of their duty. Though we are yet to see the list, so far we don’t see anything questionable in what the DAR is doing,” Ligon said. –  Ric Sapnu, Ding Cervantes