AGRARIAN REFORM | Hontiveros flags ‘systemic pattern of injustice’ amid farmers’ woes

March 5, 2024 , 01:17 PM

(March 5, 2024) – Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday raised the alarm over the “pattern of injustice” experienced by farmers after her office received reports about agrarian reform reversals and land reconsolidations in different provinces.

Hontiveros, a member of the two-person minority bloc, lamented reports that there are agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) being ejected from their land because of unjust tactics against them.

She cited the case of beneficiaries in Pampanga who complied with the necessary payments for the land but are still facing demolition woes.

“Lingid sa kanilang kaalaman, nagkasanglaan na pala ng lupa na buong akala nila ay sa kanila at binabayaran nila nang maayos at tiwala sa sistema,” said Hontiveros in a privilege speech. “Ngayon ay may notice of demolition at ginagamitan ng dahas ang mga magbubukid.”

Another report that Hontiveros cited was from the recipients of certificate of land ownership award (CLOA) in Nasugbu, Batangas. She pointed out that the lapses in acquisition by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) was a factor in this case.

“Biglang bumulaga sa ARBs ang balita na kailangan na nilang lisanin ang lupa at lumipat sa ibang lupa. This is based on the so-called win-win solution of Consolidated Order Number 6, which divides the landholdings 50-50, but apportions to the ARBs the less-desirable areas of the landholding,” added Hontiveros.

While she stressed that ARBs should not be faulted, she acknowledged that DAR officials cannot be entirely blamed either because the recurring problems are systemic.

Still, she maintained that the government must work double time to ensure that the rights of farmers are protected amid efforts to “evade” the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

“Hindi po sila (ARBs) ang nagkulang, wala po silang sala, pero sila ang papasan. That the law is a great equalizer is a myth. When one party has more resources than the other, when one party has access to lawyers who can help navigate the system, that tilts the scales in their favor,” said Hontiveros.

Over the past decades, various administrations implemented policies on agrarian reform. In 1972, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. approved Presidential Decree No. 27 but a report by the Martial Law Museum assessed that his administration’s “rhetoric on agrarian reform did not match its actions.”

Experts likewise noted that the regular problems with land administration years after the passage of CARP also made it difficult to fully realize the intent of the policy. CARP was approved during the term of former President Corazon Aquino.

Hontiveros noted that the promise of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. “to seek permanent solutions” to agrarian reform can be done by first “addressing these patterns of injustice.”

“Ilang taon, ilang dekada ng kapabayaan. What is clear is that we owe historical debt to our farmers. May utang tayo sa magbubukid. May utang tayo sa kanayunan,” said Hontiveros.

(PM)

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