The Department of Agrarian Reform and Department of Agriculture have partnered to form a joint validation team to ensure that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program covers only “idle” government-owned agricultural lands.
Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones and Agriculture Secretary William Dar decided to work hand-in-hand in pursuit of the country’s food security program.
The formation of the joint validation team came after Dar suggested that all government-owned lands be verified and validated first before deciding whether or not these should be placed under CARP coverage as provided for under Executive Order No. 75.
Under the law, DAR is authorized to place under the CARP coverage all idle government-owned land for distribution to landless farmers.
Castriciones proposed the formation of a joint validation team between DAR and DA.
The agriculture chief said there are lands owned by the DA that are being used as “farm laboratories” even as he raised concerns that these may be inadvertently placed under the CARP coverage during its implementation.
