DAR goes high-tech, holds web-based legal case monitoring system seminar

by Adolfo Lopez ,Jr.

Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Mar 9 (PIA) – To ensure faster resolution and close monitoring of agrarian-related cases, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office, recently conducted  an orientation seminar on web-based Legal Case Monitoring System (LCMS) among Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers (PARO), DAR legal officers and DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) staff of Region IX at Dakak Park and Beach Resort, Taguilon, Dapitan City.

Participants from Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur attended the seminar headed by PAROs Rizzel  Villanueva,  Virgilio Alcomendras, and Engr. Raymundo Bernardo of the respective provinces. Legal Assistance Division from the said provinces were in full force with the presence of the division chiefs Atty. Alan  Tolorio,  Atty. Avito Zamora  and Atty. Judith  Patriarca, bringing along with them their paralegal officers and LCMS focal persons.

Also present  were officers from DARAB spearheaded by Regional Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (RARAD) Atty. Jesric Enriquez and Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator Atty. Jessica Tilos – Agagon. DAR IX Regional Office also showed its support to the  seminar as Regional Director Julita Ragandang graced the event  along with Engr. Agnes Y. Maata, Assistant Regional Director for Operations Atty. Tettywangsa T. Husin Regional Office Legal Division Chief and other DAR IX regional employees.

Facilitated by the Management Information Service (MIS) of DAR Central Office, the participants were oriented on how to use the web-based LCMS and were also asked for suggestions for the improvement of the system.

Under LCMS, all agrarian-related cases whether filed at the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) or at the Legal Division in all DAR offices nationwide would be entered into this web-based system for easy monitoring and tracking on the development of these cases. The LCMS will enable DAR officers to track the progress of legal cases pending with the DAR. The said system was pilot-tested in selected regions and provinces and will be fully operational within this year.

DAR Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Anthony  Parungao also graced the said event and expressed his optimism for the actual and successful operation of the  monitoring system which would be a great help to the department in the speedy resolution of cases affecting land acquisition and distribution and other related cases.

USec. Parungao also said that the web-based LCMS is just one of the various reforms and strategies initiated by the DAR Central Office to pick up the pace of land acquisition and distribution in the country. He also mentioned about the web-based DAR Legal Information System (LIS) which was launched last November 2011. This will enable field personnel, agrarian reform advocates and researchers to access information related to agrarian reform (laws, issuances, court decisions, etc.) through the Internet. Templates for Agrarian Law Implementation (ALI) and cancellation cases were also prepared for DAR lawyers and legal officers to speed up and improve the quality of decisions which were made available by just visiting the DAR website.

With all the necessary improvements and initiatives in the various fields of agrarian reform services, DAR is on the right track as it aimed to achieve its ultimate goal of fully implementing the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program before it ends by 2014. (DAR9/ATL/PIA(/CAL)