DAR Secretary Estrella instructs prompt installation of Hacienda Tinang farmers and swift land distribution

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III directed DAR officials to accelerate the installation of Malayang Kilusang Samahang Magsasaka ng Tinang (Makisama-Tinang) as rightful owners of the 62.4 hectares of Hacienda Tinang in Concepcion, Tarlac, and expedite the distribution of their individual land titles. The directive was given on November 16 during a dialogue held at the DAR Central Office in Quezon City.

Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Napoleon Galit has been tasked with the immediate issuance of the electronic land titles (e-titles) to address instances of harassment reported by the members of Makisama-Tinang amid land disputes.

Also present during the dialogue were Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (FASPO) Undersecretary Jesry Palmares, Field Operations Office (FOO) Assistant Secretary Marjorie Ayson, and Tarlac Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Rogelio Marzan.

The Hacienda Tinang case, spanning three decades involving a 200-hectares, was resolved by the DAR Adjudication Board in May after it ordered the distribution of 450 land titles to 450 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) with no appeals filed, making the decision final and executory.

Secretary Estrella affirmed that “DAR will exhaust all means to distribute to the ARBs their land titles immediately. Once these titles are in their hands, nobody can deny them their right to their land.”

He added that since the landholdings were awarded through the Collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award, as soon as the ARBs receive their individual titles, they will be covered by RA 11953 or the New Agrarian Emancipation Act, which condones all agrarian reform debt, including interests, penalties, and surcharges incurred by ARBs from the lands awarded to them by the government.

The Secretary promised to facilitate the land title processing with partner government agencies so that the DAR can speed up their issuance.

“Our President, from the beginning, has been championing the cause of the small farmers. We assure you that all our efforts will be in your best interest and the improvement of the agricultural sector,” Estrella said.

The expedited resolution