DAR chief optimistic on peace talks with Reds

MANILA, Philippines - One of the so-called progressive Cabinet officials of the Duterte administration yesterday expressed confidence over the recently concluded fourth round of peace negotiations between the government and communist rebels.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael Mariano said he is confident that a positive outcome will be achieved in the peace negotiations after free land distribution has been affirmed as one of the basic elements of the Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms (CASER).

The fourth round of talks between the government and the National Democractic Front (NDF) ended last April 6 in Noodwijk, Netherlands with a promise to make possible a genuine agrarian reform program.

The NDF is representing the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in the talks with the government.

Mariano sat down as a member of the government contingent and affirmed in the crafting of CASER the provisions that included free land distribution to farmers and the dismantling of land monopoly that involved thousands of hectares of agricultural lands.

“Our continuing advocacy to push for the enactment of a genuine agrarian reform law would rectify the inherent flaws, loopholes and defects of previous agrarian reform programs that have exacerbated land monopoly by few landlords,” Mariano added.

President Duterte, who chairs the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC), included security of land tenure as one of the priorities in the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the government.

The Duterte administration committed to raise the productivity of farmers and improve their quality of life during a forum in Davao City last Feb. 1.