SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) MIMAROPA has extended free legal advice through the “Lawyers to the Benepisyaryo Program,” benefitting more than 170 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) in Occidental Mindoro.
The program intends to help farmers far from the DAR provincial office, such as those living in Sablayan and Mamburao towns, to settle agrarian-related problems in partnership with the local government units.
“Somehow, mayroon kayong kalituhan sa problema niyo. Mayroon kayong mga hindi naintinidhan kung ano ang gagawin ninyo, at perhaps karamihan sa inyo, nawawalan na ng pag-asa, baka mapaalis na sa lupang tinitirikan…Bukod sa kalinawan, bukod sa mga payo at pasya, ay somehow makapagbigay kami ng pag-asa sa inyo,” said Occidental Mindoro OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer Ferdinand M. de Gala.
(You may have confusion about your problems. There may be some who do not know what to do, and perhaps most of you are losing hope, afraid of being evicted from your lands. In addition to clarifications, advice, and instructions, we would like to give you hope.)
The regional office brought legal officers from different provinces in MIMAROPA to accommodate more ARBs.
“Ang kasanayan at kaalaman ng mga legal officers na ito ay ginagastusan ng departamento para ang serbisyong maibigay sa inyo ay walang menos,” DAR Occidental Mindoro Chief Legal Officer Israel Ceazar E. Palino assured the beneficiaries.
Some problems consulted during the activity were missing certificates of land titles and other related documents, disputes on land borders, problems with claims of ownership, and mediation.
Having received solutions for their cases, the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the free legal advice extended by DAR.
“Nabigyan po ng linaw, at yung pag-asa po namin na mapasa-amin ang lupa [na matagal na naming binubungkal] ay natugunan na po sa pamamagitan po ng magigiting na counsel ng DAR…Sana’y marami pa pong kagaya namin ang kanilang matulungan,” said Honoria Nicolas, an ARB from Barangay Tuban, Sablayan.
(It was made clear, and our hope in owning the land we have been cultivating for so long is rekindled through the mighty counsel of DAR. We hope that DAR can help more people like us.)
“Sa pamunuan ng DAR, lubos po akong nagpapasalamat sa lahat ng kanilang serbisyo,” said ARB Rodrigo Recopuerto from Barangay Ligaya, Sablayan.
(To the administration of DAR, we are truly grateful for their service.)
If agrarian-related problems are not fixed immediately, these may disturb the livelihood of farmers and affect our food security as there are cases which can lead to halting farming activities, said Palino.
Consequently, de Gala encourages ARBs to seek assistance from DAR without hesitation.
“Kami ay bukas…sa DAR Provincial Office na humarap sa inyo kung mayroon kayong mga suliranin o mga kalituhan sa inyong mga hinaharap na issues sa inyong mga lupa,” he stressed.
(We are open at the DAR Provincial Office to serve you if you have challenges or confusion regarding land issues.)
The DAR Occidental Mindoro continues to work with local government units to extend their services to ARBs living in far-flung areas. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA – Occidental Mindoro)
