Landowners’ Forum held in Sorsogon

ATTENDED by fifty three (53) landowners from different parts of Sorsogon province, the recent landowners’ forum conducted by DAR Sorsogon was fulfilling.

This time, it was landowners’ turn to express their feelings toward the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) implementation. Narciso G. Villareal, Department Manager AOC5-LBP; Maria Teresa Noemi Pizon, RDO-BIR; Lea Mapagdalita, CARP Focal Person of DTI; and Rene Lachica, representative of Provincial Assessor’s Office – Sorsogon were there to explain to the landowners their role in the implementation of CARP.

On the part of DAR, Engr. Noli O. Olitin, OIC CARPO on Land Tenure Implementation discussed to them the step-by-step process of Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD), while Atty. Gilmar S. Nasayao, Chief - Legal Division gave answers to legal issues.

“It’s not just the farmers whom we’re concerned but the landowners, too. That’s why we conducted this forum for the landowners. First, to give them awareness how we process the acquisition of their landholdings going to the farmers, especially the payment matters which can be explained best by LBP representative. Second, to give them ideas through DTI how to invest the proceeds of their land which was covered under CARP and what business is appropriate for their retention area. Third, there are rules in taxation which we all need to know from the BIR,” Leonito M. Gaveria, OIC Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II said.

At the forum most of the issues raised pertain to the implementation of Operation Land Transfer, especially on the land valuation and compensation to the landowners.