By Delva Rose M. Ligwang
THE Department of Agrarian Reform recently conducted a dialogue with its partner agencies, landowners and agrarian reform beneficiaries to resolve a dispute involving an 800-hectare parcel of land in Piat, Cagayan.
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Office Marcos D. Risonar Jr. said the dispute involves political issues between the towns of Piat and Solana and issues on ownership as different certificates of title cover the land.
He said representatives from Land Bank of the Philippines, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Register of Deeds, Department of Interior and Local Government, Provincial Government of Cagayan, Municipal Government of Solana, Municipal Government of Piat, the landowners, and the farmer-beneficiaries attended the dialogue.
Risonar said the parties, after thorough discussion, resolved the dispute, concluding that there was no political boundary issue as the map creating Piat town showed the land in question is within the jurisdiction of Piat.
Land Bank of the Philippines Legal Adviser Gilbert Barsaban said the landholding is a unique situation as it involves one lot but two claimants, two towns and two titles.
Barsaban said their office would proceed with the determination of the valuation of the subject land.
Assistant Regional Director Wilfredo Malvar of the DENR committed to release a new town map by yearend upon completion of all documents.
DAR Regional Director Marjorie P. Ayson, RARAD Atty. Annabelle Oandasan, Director of the Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement Leandro Caymo, and the PARPO II of all the provinces in Region 02 were also present during the dialogue.
