The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) will award individual land titles to 93 former rebels (FRs) of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Negros Oriental after proper documentation and compliance with local government requirements.
DAR-Negros Oriental Provincial Agrarian Reform Program officer Manuel Galon told the Philippine News Agency July 24 that the land titles cover part of a 13-hectare property under the government’s land reform program in Barangay Bongalonan in Basay town.
The property is the site of a housing project for FRs, funded by the provincial government through the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-ELCAC) with an initial budget of P60 million.
The housing project intends to build 100 housing units in 200 square meter lots, with a communal farm to be shared by the FRs.
Galon said the awarding of the land titles to the FRs was initially set June 3, but was deferred due to a resolution issued by the Basay town council.
The resolution requested the provincial TF-ELCAC, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the DAR to cease the implementation of the housing project until after a memorandum of agreement has been signed with Basay’s local government, citing security concerns and other “risks” of disagreement in the community.
“Their reason was that the FRs might cause trouble and disturbance of peace and order in Basay, given their backgrounds and history,” Galon said. “But these FRs have been properly documented and are now peace-loving people.”
The DAR official said the TF-ELCAC, project stakeholders, and Basay officials met with Governor Manuel Sagarbarria July 23 to resolve the issue.
Galon said the Basay officials promised to facilitate a meeting to assure their constituents that it is necessary to support the FRs in implementing Executive Order (EO) 75.
EO 75 directs all departments, bureaus, offices, and instrumentalities of the government to identify lands owned by the government, devoted to or suitable for agriculture, for distribution to qualified beneficiaries.
He said Sagarbarria also promised to allocate additional funds for the housing project.
“It should be a whole-of-nation approach to give the FRs a chance to integrate into mainstream society. This is just a temporary snag, but the project will be implemented,” Galon said, adding that the awarding of individual titles would be held within the year. ||
