Duterte orders government lands to be converted to agricultural lands

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has ordered all agencies to identify government-owned lands that can be distributed to land reform beneficiaries.

The directive is contained in Executive Order 75 signed by Duterte last Feb. 15. 

Duterte said the 1987 Constitution declared it a policy of the state to undertake the just distribution of all agricultural lands subject to priorities and retention limits prescribed by Congress.

He also noted that under Republic Act 6657, government-owned lands devoted to or suitable for agriculture are covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and are to be planned and programmed for acquisition and distribution by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

Duterte ordered DAR to acquire all government-owned lands devoted to or suitable for agriculture but are no longer actually, directly and exclusively used for the purpose for which they have been reserved so they can be distributed to qualified beneficiaries.

All departments, bureaus and government instrumentalities were given 30 days to identify and submit a list of lands that can be covered by the land reform program. 

DAR Secretary John Castriciones welcomed the President’s signing of EO 75, saying “we are the proponent of this EO and we prepared the draft for this.”

“This will help us. This will be a boost to the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. This will fast-track the distribution of lands, particularly government-owned lands, to qualified beneficiaries,” Castriciones said.

He noted that these government-owned lands will be awarded to farmers for free. “They wouldn’t have to pay amortization,” Castriciones added.

Land conversion

Castriciones also said that a joint memorandum circular regarding applications for land conversion will be released soon.

Castriciones said this was agreed upon in a recent meeting of the inter-agency task force created by the President.

He said that a joint memorandum circular will be submitted to the Cabinet early next month.           

“Our initial submission will be with the Cabinet on March 4 and after that, we will present it to the President,” Castriciones said.

The inter-agency task force has been meeting to abide by the President’s mandate to streamline land conversion processes to 30 days from the current 24 months. – With Rhodina Villanueva