Duterte vows to fulfill land reform election promise

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga, Philippines — Despite criticisms from farmers’ groups on his alleged failure to fully implement the land reform program, President  Duterte intends to make good on his election promise to back agrarian reform and uplift the lives of farmers.

“I am for land reform. That was one of the things I mentioned during the campaign and I will not renege on it,” said Duterte during the Kapampangan Food Festival here last Thursday.

Duterte admitted that the country’s agriculture is “really lagging behind” other sectors “almost to a fault” and that “the only way to improve it really is to give more lands if we can afford it.”

Amid lack of funds, some 800,000 hectares of agricultural lands still have to be distributed by the government that the previous administration failed to acquire and distribute under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) data indicated that more than 600,000 hectares of land remain undistributed to qualified land reform beneficiaries, while another 200,000 hectares have yet to be covered with CARP notices.

Duterte said, however, that  “I will look for money and buy,” as he stressed the need to “improve the manufacturing side” of the agricultural sector but “we have to have law (and) peace.”

He blamed the communists for the failure of the sector to improve and develop because of the rebels’ alleged “extortion” activities in agricultural areas.

“Eh itong mga komunista, left and right ang hingi eh. ‘Yong bagong pumapasok d’yan, they start to extort. (Communists extort money, left and right). And they say that they are helping the Filipinos, for what? Subsidize in what? How many members of the politburo are there, the central committee? ‘Yan lang naman ang nag-enjoy. (These central committee officials are the only ones who benefit),” he said.

DAR gets new chief

Newly appointed DAR acting secretary John Castriciones has vowed to fast-track the distribution of land titles to farmer-beneficiaries.

He assumed his post last Thursday in a “meet and greet” ceremony held at the agency’s central office in Quezon City.

Castriciones was appointed by President Duterte to head the DAR effective Dec. 1 this year.

In his message, the new DAR chief said he wants to fast-track the distribution of certificates of land ownership awards to agrarian reform beneficiaries and the provision of support programs and services to beneficiaries’ organizations.

Castriciones emphasized that under his leadership, farmers, especially those qualified to benefit from the agrarian reform program of the government, must be prioritized.  

“Neglecting the farmers and the disregard of their plight are among the reasons of unrest, especially in the countryside,” the official said.

Castriciones also took notice of the continuing encampment of farmers outside the premises of the DAR central office.

He urged top officials of the DAR to look into the demands of the protesting farmers for them to end their protest and go home to their respective families and communities during the Christmas season.

Castriciones also echoed President Duterte’s continuing fight against graft and corruption in the government and urged the officers and employees of DAR to serve the public with honesty and integrity.

Prior to his appointment to DAR, Castriciones served as undersecretary for operations at the Department of the Interior and Local Government.– Rhodina Villanueva