With help from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines, 75 farmer-beneficiaries have been able to take actual possession of the 188.08-hectare Nemesio Tan Estate in Capiz, according to the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
The Nemesio Tan estate is covered under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program located in Barangay Culilang, President Roxas, Capiz, and Barangays Dulangan and San Sebastian, Capiz with a total land area of 188.08 hectares.
Sheila Enciso, DAR regional director, said the 175 farmer-beneficiaries of the Nemesio Tan property were installed on May 11 but due to the strong resistance of Ferdinand Bacanto, who claimed to be the former landowner’s administrator and the presence of standing crops, the installed farmers were deprived of their rights to actually and physically possess their landholdings.
“On the last week of November, the concerned agrarian reform beneficiaries, including members of their immediate households voluntarily helped in the clearing activities,” she said.
She said they also put demarcation strings as markings of their awarded lands considering that concrete monuments installed by the DAR surveyors were already missing. “It is rightful and timely for the ARBs to take possession and cultivate their awarded lands taking into consideration their safety and security as the utmost priority,” she noted.
She emphasized that it is the duty of the department to implement agrarian reform and that the awarded lands should be enjoyed by the farmer-beneficiaries.
