DAR open to talks on CARPER with farmer groups

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform on Thursday said it is open to dialogue with various farmer groups that are converging in Metro Manila to press their demands for the completion of agrarian reform.

Some of the farmer groups have set up camp outside the DAR office in Quezon City  and will hold separate rallies to mark the anniversary of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

The farmers are demanding for an amendment on the law which will allow for the continuation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms (CARPER) amid fears that agrarian reform goals will fall short when the law expires by end of June.

DAR Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Anthony Parungao said that they welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with the farmers even as he sought to allay fears that agrarian reform will, itself, expire.

He that the law allows support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries and the delivery of agrarian justice to proceed beyond June 30, 2014.

What was given a deadline was the land acquisition and distribution aspect of the current agrarian reform program, he added.

He cited that Section 30 of R.A. No. 9700 or CARPER not only allows the DAR to acquire and distribute agricultural lands with pending cases as of June 30, 2014, it also allows the agrarian reform agency to continue to acquire and distribute agricultural lands as long as the process has been initiated prior to the said date.

He noted that the land acquisition and distribution process is initiated through the issuance of a Notice of Coverage  (NOC) to the landowner, or the acceptance of the DAR of a landowners voluntary offer to sell.

Data showed that from 2012-2013, DAR was able to issue 56,399 NOCs for 520,529 hectares of land subject to compulsory acquisition.

From January to May 20, 2014, DAR was able to issue 11,178 NOCs for 108,216 hectares of land. There are only 14,085 NOCs left to be prepared or served covering 88,962 hectares, the DAR said.