The Department of Agrarian Reform has tapped the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to enact policies, plans and programs for the installation of farmer-beneficiaries on the Nemesio Tan landholdings in Pilar and President Roxas municipalities in Capiz.
The landholding involved a decade-old land dispute between the farmers and the powerful heirs of Nemesio Tan, which the DAR finally put an end to with the recent awarding of land titles to the 175 rightful beneficiaries comprising 188.08 hectares of land.
Sheila Enciso, DAR Western Visayas regional director, thanked partner agencies for their support during the recent distribution of land titles spearheaded by Secretary John Castriciones.
“The AFP and the PNP play vital roles in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. The DAR in Western Visayas has been facing challenges in the implementation of land reform, specifically with private contentious landholding, but through their help, we can exercise harmonious installation of ARBs,” she said.
Several powerful landowners have the means to harass DAR personnel and the farmer-beneficiaries, and that through a stronger partnership with AFP and the PNP, these are assured of genuine implementation of the program and ensuring the upliftment of their lives, she said.
Under Republic Act No. 6675 as amended, the beneficiaries have the right to take physical possession of the land awarded to them through a registered certified land ownership award.
DAR, in cooperation with the AFP and the PNP, has a continuing responsibility to ensure the installation of the beneficiaries to exercise their rights of ownership and possession of the land awarded to them.