Farmers’ organization Task Force Mapalad (TFM) published a press release over the weekend expressing concern the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) may be shifting priorities from land distribution to land conversion.

The group protested outside the DAR office in Bacolod City last week, calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to fast-track agrarian reform programs in Negros and to begin with the distribution of 30 specific landholdings, which stretch across 900 hectares of land.

“Though we are still confident that President Rodrigo Duterte is sincere in his desire to end the misery of landless farmers, we are afraid that his recent statement over his frustration in the DAR’s slow processing of land conversion applications and the issuance of the [administrative order fast-tracking land use conversion] could send mix signals that the department’s priority now will no longer be land distribution but land conversion,” explained TFM Negros-Panay Chapter President Teresita Tarlac.

The order, issued by DAR Secretary John Castriciones, calls for hastened conversion of agricultural landholdings into non-agricultural use.

During last week’s demonstration, Tarlac recalled Duterte’s earlier promises, noting, “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.”

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

The said land is located across a few Negros Occidental localities including La Carlota City, Hinigaran, Cadiz City, and Sagay City./WDJ