DAR installs Btac. Nuevo farmers in Florete estate
After waiting for sometime, 97 farmers under the government's Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) were finally installed during a recent ceremony held right at the location of the property in Barangay Igbong, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II, Ricardo B. Fernandez led the installation ceremony of farmers occupying the landholding formerly owned by Mr. Marcelino Florete of the Florete-Caperonce Agro. Commercial Corp. The whole property has a total area of 189 hectares, of which 185.8568 hectares were subjected to CARP and a collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) has been generated by DAR and has been registered with the Register of Deeds in 1997 in favor of the farmers.
However, due to a case filed by the landowner with the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB), the farmers failed to actually take possession in the subject property but after a process of discussions and negotiations, the landowner voluntarily withdrew the case at the DARAB which prompted the DAR to finally install the farmers therein.
Assistant Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer, Rodrigo J. Hoderial led the briefing of the farmers prior to the installation ceremony and he described the strategies and the mechanics for an orderly implementation of the installation activities. He further said that it cannot be denied that problems may crop up after the farmers will be installed and DAR is ready to address them as soon as possible. Thus, Legal Officer Francisco Canones who chaired the Task Force Installation will directly address various problems and issues relative to the matter. In addition to the 97 farmers, 18 farmers who are named in the final order for the inclusion issued by the Regional Director last year are also included as beneficiaries of the same property, Canones said. (DAR/PIA)