TFM: ‘Rebirth’ begins by ending haciendero rule

With farmers’ organization Task Force Mapalad (TFM) hosting a rally earlier this week outside the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) provincial office, located along San Sebastian Street in Dawis, Bacolod City, the group called on President Rodrigo Duterte to recall his past promises.

“You promised farmers last year that there will be a rebirth of agrarian reform in the country and your administration will be more aggressive in its implementation of the program,” said TFM-Negros President Teresita Tarlac. “We also hope that you will start that ‘rebirth’ in Negros Occidental by ending land monopoly and the rule of powerful hacienderos here.”

They called on the president to fast-track agrarian reform programs in Negros and to begin with the distribution of 30 landholdings, stretching across 900 hectares of land, which TFM said is “already in the CARP pipeline.” The said land is located across a few localities including La Carlota City, Hinigaran, Cadiz City, and Sagay City.

“We hope President Duterte will use his commanding power to hasten the distribution of these 30 landholdings,” the demonstrators urged.

“Landlords’ grip over these estates remains tight amid the DAR’s lack of political will to award these to their tillers,” Tarlac added. “There is no more reason to slow down or impede CLOA (certificates of land ownership award) issuance in these landholdings.”/WDJ