DAR shifts focus on land distribution to Bicol, ARMM, C. Mindanao

MANILA, Feb. 9 (PNA) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said on Monday it will have its hands full when it focuses its land distribution programs in Bicol Region, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Central Mindanao.

DAR officials said nearly half or 98,856 hectares of its 200,000-hectare land acquisition and distribution target for the year are located in those regions.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said DAR field personnel in the three regions would have to work doubly hard since they are practically carrying the big load for the agency in its quest to breach the 200,000-hectare mark for the first time in 13 years.

The last time DAR distributed more than 200,000 hectares was in 1997 when it gave away 210,126 hectares to landless farmers, more than half of which are government-owned lands, much unlike today when most, if not all, of the remaining undistributed lands are privately owned.

Pangandaman said the ARMM regional office is projected to distribute 37,315 hectares this year; Bicol, 34,197 hectares; and Central Mindanao, 27, 344 hectares.

Some observers, however, cautioned agrarian reform implementers to take precautionary measures since they would be dealing not only with landlords known for their defiant stand against land reform but also with warlords, more particularly in the ARMM and in Central Mindanao.

ARMM is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-tawi, while Central Mindanao is made up of Cotabato, South Cotabato, Saranggani and Sultan Kudarat.

Pangandaman said Western Visayas, the region with the biggest backlog in undistributed lands at 208,812 hectares, is out to deliver only 15,470 hectares this year.

But he expects the region to gradually increase its annual target and even take the center stage in the coming years as land surveys in the area are now being finalized.

Eastern Visayas region is also expected to make a noise as it vows to deliver 15,151 hectares, he added.

These five regions, Pangandaman said, cover practically the bulk or 788,753 hectares of the total balance of 1,168,934 hectares of still undistributed lands nationwide.

After Western Visayas comes next the Bicol region with a balance of 202,338 hectares; C. Mindanao, 136,423 hectares; ARMM, 120,590 hectares; and E. Visayas, 89,801 hectares, he said. (PNA)
LDV/JCA