Zambo Sur CARP beneficiaries seek DAR chief assistance

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Feb. 4 (PNA) -- A group of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) from Barangay Lourmah, Mahayag town has asked Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Virgilio Delos Reyes to pursue the survey and land distribution before the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms ends in June this year.

In a letter sent Monday and signed by 119 farmers, they also requested Delos Reyes to investigate the continues demolition of their residences and harassment allegedly done by the landowner.

“We the 119 farmers were confirmed as the farmer beneficiaries of the 166 hectares of land of the Abuton Estate after being recognized by the Department of Agrarian Reform on March 25, 2013,” the Samahan ng mga Magbubukid sa Lourma led by Virgilio Fuentes stated in the letter addressed to Delos Reyes.

Fuentes said the problem started when the Court recently ordered the demolition of the houses of 36 of the 119 farmer beneficiaries.

He said that another 20 houses were ordered to be demolished Tuesday, February 4.

He said since October 2013 they were being told that the survey will already be made for the eventual distribution of the land to the farmer beneficiaries.

However, he said no survey has been made until this time the reason why they are seeking the intervention of Delos Reyes. (PNA)
PDS/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION/UTB