MANILA – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will expedite the distribution of government-owned lands (GOLs) to war veterans and their surviving spouses or orphaned children, retired military and police personnel, and graduates of agricultural programs.
According to Secretary Conrado Estrella III, DAR intends to distribute the remaining 256,121 hectares of idle government-owned lands, under Executive Order (EO) No. 75, in compliance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
EO No. 75, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2019, instructs the identification of GOLs dedicated or suitable for agriculture, and was signed by the heads of the DAR and the Department of Justice.
“There are 24,459 hectares that are up for field validation, with 14,118 hectares of them targeted for distribution this year under Executive Order No. 75,” Estrella said.
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Kazel Celeste issued a memorandum addressed to regional and provincial land reform implementers directing them to conduct field validation activities immediately and submit reports soon.
Besides the validation reports, the regional and provincial offices should present other supporting documents, such as photocopies of the proclamation or titles, certifications from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources classifying the lands as alienable and disposable, certifications from the Department of Agriculture as to their suitability for farming and the identified areas for coverage, among others.
When they are denied entry by a government agency, implementers of land reform program may seek military or police assistance.
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