CARP land distribution process shortened

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has shortened the process of acquisition and distribution of farm lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries from six to four months.

The streamlining of the process is in compliance with President Duterte’s order to complete the land acquisition and distribution component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program before his term ends in June 2022, according to DAR acting Undersecretary for field operations office Elmer Distor.

“Now that we have simplified the process of acquiring and distributing lands, we are confident that we can make the beneficiaries’ dream to own the land that they are tilling come true,” Distor said during the distribution of certificates of land ownership to 200 farmer-beneficiaries in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija over the weekend.

Distor admitted that the awarding was long overdue as most of the beneficiaries have been farming for decades without a land of their own.

The beneficiaries were warned of penalties should they sell the property awarded to them.

“To the buyers of properties awarded to the beneficiaries, we will repossess the land and redistribute it to deserving farmers,” DAR Undersecretary Carim Panumpang said.