DAR designates Women’s Desk Officer
SAN JOSE, Antique – The Department of Agrarian Reform shall establish and maintain Women’s Desk in municipalities and provincial offices in compliance with the provision of Republic Act 9700 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program Extension with Reforms.
Lucia Macavinta, Information Officer of DAR Antique said that Women’s Desk Officer will formulate and implement programs and activities related to the protection and promotions of women’s rights at the same time will serve as venue where women can register their complaints and grievances on issues affecting rural women.
A Women’s Desk Officer will also be designated in DAR’s regional and central offices. They will be designated by their respective heads of offices subject to the confirmation of DAR Secretary through the issuance of Special Order.
The Women Desk Officers in every Municipal Agrarian Reform Office will cater to DAR Women Employees, Women Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries including their children and other women household member. They will provide the following services; receive, record and document complaints/issues and gather relevant information pertaining to the complaint.
Republic Act 9700 states that rural women (those engaged in farming, fishing) should be given the opportunity to
participate in the development and implementation of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform program.
In an assembly of DAR Ladies Association-Samahan ng Kababaihan sa Agraryo (DARLA-SAKA) held in San Jose, Antique, salient features of this act was discussed among which is the provision that in no case the sex, economic, religious, social, cultural and political attributes of the agrarian reform beneficiaries affect the distribution of lands. (DAR/PIA)
