DAR 7 to complete CARP target by June 2014
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR-7) in Central Visayas gave the assurance that will be able to complete its land acquisition and distribution target under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program by June 2014. The regional office said that it has a balance of 19,613-hectares of land for acquisition and distribution, which will benefit an estimated 16,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
DAR-7 regional director Rodolfo Inson said in a press conference that in 2011, DAR-7 distributed 11,758 hectares of agricultural areas to 8,828 ARBs. He said that 4,458 hectares of these were for Cebu province with 3,805 ARBs.
For Bohol, DAR-7 distributed 2,905 hectares of agricultural lands to 1,693 ARBs while for Negros Oriental, some 2,649 hectares were given to 3,270 ARBs; and 53 hectares for Siquijor province with 60 ARBs.
Inson added that the DAR had distributed more than 178,079 agricultural areas benefiting 137,104 ARBs from October 21,1972 up to March 31, 2012.
From the 197,692 hectare CARP Land Acquisition and Distribution scope of the region, the DAR has a balance of 19,613 hectares which will be completely distributed to the intended beneficiaries by June 2014, Inson said.
"The office is trying hard to accomplish and distribute the LAD balance on or before June 2014. The LAD balance of 19,613 hectares will approximately benefit 14,000-16,000 ARBs," Inson told the media.
For 2012, Inson said DAR-7 has targeted 5,876 hectares to be acquired and distributed to 5,805 qualified beneficiaries with 1478 hectares from Cebu province; 1391 hectares from Bohol; and 1391 hectares from Negros Orriental.
DAR-7 Legal Division chief, Atty. Esther Nadela said that unawareness of the farmers rights and responsibilities is one of the challenges that the department has been facing.
However, she added that the empowerment of farmers through education and massive information campaign, and protecting their rights are solutions to solve this problem.
The DAR is ready to face whatever challenges that will come along the implementation of its projects. Although DAR received criticisms and negative comments, Nadela added that the projects will still be pursued and DAR will find ways to solve the challenges in the delivery of agrarian justice.
"DAR officials are always looking forward for the welfare of the people," Inson concluded.(mbcn/hfg/PIA-RO7 & Nino Jesryl Maglasang/CNU Intern)
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Mandaue City receives ‘Seal of Good Housekeeping’ Award from DILG
By Fayette C. Ri�en
CEBU CITY, May 30 (PIA) -- The City Government of Mandaue recently received the “Seal of Good Housekeeping” award from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) along with 75 other local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas.
DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo personally handed the plaque to Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes during the recent “Tapatan on Disaster Preparedness and Climate Change Adaptation: A Call to Action” in Cebu attended by over 500 participants including local chief executives from the different municipalities, cities and provinces in Region 7.
Mandaue City won the award under the highly urbanized category along with Cebu City. Thirty LGUs in Cebu received the “Seal of Good Housekeeping” award and another 30 LGUs in Bohol were also feted with the same and 15 LGUs from Negros Oriental.
“The seal is part of the way of life in local governance, the matrix of government system measure. If you have the seal of good housekeeping you can rightfully say, matino ako,” said Robredo during his speech after giving out the awards which also included 26 municipalities throughout the region.
According to Robredo the seal is part of the requirement from the Department of Finance and the monetary board before a LGU can borrow money from government financial institutions.
Aside from the plaque, the Mandaue City also received P25 million described as Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) and P3 million for Performance Challenge Fund (PCF).
But Robredo explained the award he recently gave is the bronze type as he introduced more high standards of seal under good housekeeping: silver type, referring to actual performance other than integrity measures and the gold which requires integrity or performance, engagement measures, a functioning city or municipal development council and a functioning peace and order council, among others.
Robredo also introduced the “Seal of Disaster Preparedness” which he said focuses on both institutional and operational capacity.
He said this kind of “culture” should trickle down to the lowest level in the local government unit, the barangy and community.
“I am happy to receive the award, but we will not stop here as we aim higher,” bared Mandaue City Mayor Cortes after receiving the award.
Cortes revealed that they have already received the P25M LGSF and have yet to receive the P3M PCF.
The city mayor declared that they are now using the fund to answer the 215-classroom backlog for this year. “So far, the city is undertaking a P27 million 26 classroom school-building project under the Public-Private Partnership with Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. with its 30 percent share of the cost,” he added.
“My biggest challenge is to cascade the performance governance system to the lowest in the city hall, institutionalize this so that it will function even if I do not sit anymore,” Cortes stressed.
The Tapatan on disaster preparedness undertaken by the DILG 7 in Cebu is just the second of the 17 Tapatans that will be conducted nationwide until July. (PIA-Cebu with Mandaue City PR and Nikki Martee B. Apao/CNU Communication Intern)