DAR to spend P10 B to compensate landowners

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) hopes to spend P10 billion next year, or more than half of its budget, on compensation for landowners.

This is based on the P18.3-billion allocation for the department for next year, and is part of the P1.8- trillion national budget approved on second reading by the House of Representatives before midnight on Friday.

Of the P18.3 billion, P7.3 billion has been earmarked for support services and skills development program for beneficiaries while P1 billion has been set aside for addressing legal issues.

Pampanga Rep. Anna York Bondoc, in defending DAR’s allocation, said the department could have achieved more had it been given bigger budget.

“How much more if DAR is provided with sufficient funds,” Bondoc said. The DAR still needs to complete the distribution of some one million hectares of agricultural lands.

Former DAR secretary and now party-list Rep. Nasser Pangandaman of the AA Kasosyo party-list, for his part, sought funding for the department’s credit facility for farmer-beneficiaries. He said farmer-beneficiaries need to raise capital for farm inputs.

Coop-Natcco party-list Rep. Cresente Paez said the lack of capital is one of the major obstacles to improving the lives of farmer beneficiaries, most of whom go to loan sharks for funds.