by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
ZAMBOANGA CITY, July 24 (PIA) – The Department of Agrarian Reform has already accomplished 91% of their land distribution target in Region 9, twenty four years after the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, as mandated by Republic Act 6657.
DAR-9 Regional Director Julita Ragandang, during the PIA Media Forum, said, “As of June 30, this year, we have already distributed 219, 260 hectares to 122, 536 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in the region, translating to 91% accomplishment rate under our Land Tenure Improvement (LTI) program”.
Dir. Ragandang added that a total of 30,157 has. is placed under the leasehold covering 16, 710 ARBs, and 88, 890 has. of new lands was also surveyed, and subdivided 45,920 has. of land for Collective Certificates Land of Ownership Awards (CLOAs).
Ragandang said they are working double time to make sure that all lands will be distributed to the remaining beneficiaries.
“We really hope to finish distributing lands to the beneficiaries by next year. And we are really optimistic that we can beat it especially with the extension of the program thru the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law. We now have a total of 150 Agrarian Reform Communities, 119 of those were fortunate to be granted foreign assisted projects. We also have 431 People’s Organizations (POs), and 57, 565 ARB members in organizations”, Ragandang pointed.
Ragandang revealed that various support projects for ARCs under the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) are set to be implemented region-wide to make sure that beneficiaries become more productive in utilizing their lands.
“We have two projects to be implemented in Zamboanga del Norte, one for a cacao production and processing worth P31.6 M, and rice mechanization cum palay production in Polanco amounting to P3.4 M. We also have two projects for Zamboanga Sibugay for the rubber and coconut farmers. For rubber farmers, we have a total budget of P22.6 M. And we have three projects in Zamboanga del Sur, one for coco sugar production worth P3.4 M, and one for abaca production and processing with P3.1 M budget, and a P3.75 M program on enhancing the capability of rice farmers in organic agriculture and social enterprise”.
Ragandang pointed that these projects are part of the first phase of the Agrarian Reform Communities Program (ACRP). She said agrarian reform communities further got big boost from the program’s second phase (ACRP 2), this time funded by the Asian Development bank, with counterparts from the local government units (LGUs).
In a data releases by DAR-9, a total of 78 projects were approved region-wide under ARCP 2, with a whopping cost of P479.3.
Of the total amount, P56.48 M is allotted to finance projects for 20 ARCs in Zamboanga del Norte, P55.6 M for 12 ARCs in Zamboanga Sibugay, and P367.2 M for 25 ARCs in Zamboanga del Sur, all of which, according to Dir. Ragandang, are infrastructure projects.
The Japanese Government, in partnership with the national government, has also extended assistance to beneficiaries thru the Agrarian reform infrastructure Support Project (ARISP) III, funding 10 projects in Zamboanga del Sur amounting to P63.65 M. The projects include one communal irrigation project, four farm-to-market roads, one potable water system-level I, and another potable water system-level II. ARISP III also funded the construction of 1 bridge in the province, and two trainings, still for implementation.
Dir. Ragandang said they also assist beneficiaries on legal matters under their Agrarian Justice Delivery program. She said for the first semester of this year alone they have resolved 346 involving judicial, quasi-judicial, agrarian law implementation cases and mediation involving 2,025 ARBs under their agrarian legal assistance program. (MVC/PIA9-ZBST)