Solons want probe on DAR orders

MANILA, Philippines - Three legislators have asked the House of Representatives to conduct an investigation on the alleged delays in land distribution due to two Department of Agrarian Reform orders issued in 2011.

Akbayan partylist Reps. Walden Bello and Ibarra Gutierrez, and Dinagat Island Rep. Kaka Bag-ao filed House Resolution 410, asking the House Committee on Agrarian Reform to probe DAR's administrative orders 7 and 9.

The lawmakers said DAR's administrative orders have seem to be hampering the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Law in landholdings affected by protests and exclusion or exemption cases.

Republic Act 9700,  or the "Act Strengthening the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act," seeks the final acquisition of the remaining acquired and undistributed agricultural lands until June 30, 2014.

"These two issuances seem to have added additional layers in the process of giving land to covered farmer-beneficiaries," Bello said.

Bello said the delay caused by the two orders paved the way for several landlords to employ means such as intimidation, harassment and physical violence against farmer-beneficiaries in many parts of the country.

He cited the case of the Matias landholding in Bondoc Peninsula, Quezon wherein the  land was already issued with a Notice of Coverage in 2004 but the landlords blocked the distribution using DAR issuances.

"Instead of respecting the decision of DARAB (Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board), the landlords applied for exemption and thus the distribution of the land to covered farmer-beneficiaries was not implemented," Bello said.

Bello said DAR and other agencies involved in the implementation of land reform law should appear before the House panel.

"They should answer the queries why they issued the orders in the first place," Bello said.