THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) continues to conduct measures to address issues pertaining to the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Negros Occidental.
DAR Undersecretary for Field Operations Marcus Risonar Jr., said after meeting with some 300 farmer-members of Task Force Mapalad (TFM) at Bacolod Pavillon Hotel Thursday, that the department will issue an order to proceed for those with erroneous notices of coverage (NOCs).
Risonar, however, said only NOCs with minor problems like misspelled names, place of birth, location of the landholdings and other minor clerical errors will be covered by the order.
“For notices with major problems and not published yet, the farmers have no choice but to wait for a new law warranting DAR to issue the NOCs,” he added.
Aside from erroneous documents, other pressing issues discussed during the dialogue included illegal transfer and sale of land without issued clearance from DAR.
Farmers also raised concerns over the identification of farmer beneficiaries and revocation of joint venture agreement (JVA) between business tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. and the ECJ Farmer Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Efarbemco).
Risonar said he will consult the concerned Municipal Reform Program Officers (MARPOs) and other DAR officials for the issuance of appropriate directives.
As to the issue of the ECJ Certificate of Land Ownership Award(CLOA) Holders Association (ECHA), DAR-Negros Occidental II, in a press statement Friday said the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council Executive Committee has also convened Thursday.
One of the agenda was the petition filed by ECHA, particularly on the revocation of the agreement, it added. (with PNA)