DAR Lanao del Norte No.1 in CARP program in Region 10, top 5 nationwide

By JONG CADION

ILIGAN CITY, Lanao del Norte (Feb.28) - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provincial office was evaluated as number 1 performer in the implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in Region-10 during the recent assessment conducted by the DAR operation division central office, and it was also judged as top 5 of the 81 provinces nationwide with highest number area of landholdings moved for CARP in 2015, provincial DAR official said.

The top 4 provinces were Negros Occidental, Negros Occidental, North Cotabato and Isabela.

DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Jamil P. Amatonding, Jr. said Wednesday that the DAR provincial office is covering 22 municipalities and the city of Iligan.

DAR Lanao del Norte Provincial Agrarian

Reform Officer (PARO) Jamil P. Amatonding, Jr.

(Photo by FERD LIBOR)

Jamil said since he assumed office in November 2014 up to the present, a total of more than 19 thousand hectares target were identified for distribution. Of the 19 thousand hectares, 828 hectares were distributed in 2015, while 1,200 hectares are still in the process for release to the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB) following the mode of acquisition.

Jamil explained that the mode of acquisition involved the following, compulsory acquisition, voluntary offer to sale, government and land distribution by the DAR and resettlement area.

Jamil also said in terms of land distribution and acquisition since the implementation of CARP, the DAR office has a total working scope of 97,743.53 hectares with a total land distribution of 78,498.9 hectares awarded to 22,974 Famer’s Beneficiaries (FBs) with Certificates Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs).

Jamil added that Lanao del Norte was also ranked as number 8 of the top 20 provinces nationwide by the volume of accomplishment particularly the area awarded to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) with a gross percentage of 43% from their target.

The PARO also said that their office has implemented some projects through their technical advisory and support services with a total project cost of Php520M of completed foreign assisted project, with program beneficiaries development covering 133 barangays, with members in organization of 23,585 and 18 Foreign Assisted Projects (FAPs); ongoing foreign projects a total of Php137Million allocated for agriculture development and agroforestry development, infrastructure development such as Farm to Market Roads (FMR) Php16M, bridges Php171.2M, irrigation Php262M; for program, projects and partners the DAR implemented a total of Php57M.

Jamil expressed his gratitude to all the stakeholders especially the Local Government Units (LGUs) for their sincere support in the implementation of the CARP program in this province.

“I have only 3 keys to share in order to be successful in my endeavor in the implementation of the program: first is the good work attitude, second, humility and third, perseverance, and together with these 3 is the love of God. Through all these our success becomes possible,” he disclosed.