Iloilo City — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Western Visayas is on the brink of achieving a remarkable milestone, with nearly 100 percent completion in land distribution, according to regional director Sheila Enciso.
Latest data from DAR Western Visayas showed only 8.34 percent of the targeted 467,415 hectares remain to be distributed.
Speaking at the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” forum, Enciso emphasized that the agency aims to distribute over 47,000 hectares under Republic Act (RA) 9700, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms Law.
To date, approximately 271,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) have benefited from the program.
DAR also reported that a total of 16,764 hectares of land have been awarded to 17,999 ARBs under the administration of President Marcos. Enciso expressed her commitment to completing the distribution of the remaining eight percent of land to farmers during his term.
Negros Occidental holds the largest portion of land yet to be distributed (28,144 hectares), followed by Capiz (5,719 hectares), Iloilo (4,752 hectares), Guimaras (297 hectares), Antique (45 hectares), and Aklan (40 hectares). According to DAR, these remaining areas are “contentious landholdings,” awaiting resolution before distribution can proceed.
Enciso also highlighted the benefits many have received from RA 11953, or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, under which 18,918 ARBs in the region have been validated, encompassing 14,513 landholdings.
This program allows the government to cover monthly amortization, principal payments, interests, and penalties for awarded ARBs.
“We are working diligently to identify the remaining areas within the 182,000 hectares for Western Visayas, part of the 763,000 hectares nationwide,” Enciso stated, underlining the agency’s commitment to ensuring comprehensive land distribution across the region.
The DAR’s progress underlines a significant step forward in supporting farmers and promoting agrarian reform in the region, aligning with the broader goals of national agricultural development.
