The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has lifted the suspension of land acquisition and distribution under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Secretary John Castriciones has issued DAR Administrative Order (AO) No. 2 last Oct. 5 lifting the suspension of certain provisions under AO No. 6 titled “Conduct of Review and Suspension of Certain Provisions of DAR Administrative Order No. 5, Series of 2017.”
AO No. 6 specifically suspended land acquisition and distribution (LAD) process of CARP-covered lands with pending petition for protests, applications for conversion, exemptions, and exclusions.
Castriciones already directed its field implementers to proceed acquiring and distributing agricultural lands that are placed under the coverage of the CARP.
He said the process “shall continue up to the issuance of the title in the name of the Republic of the Philippines regardless of the filing of an appeal to the Office of the President (OP) on the decision of the DAR Secretary or concerned regional director in all Agrarian Law Implementation favoring the coverage of land.”
This, he pointed out, should be carried out in accordance with paragraph (e) of Section 16 of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, pertaining to payment of the landowner's compensation.
“The LAD process shall resume up to the issuance of the CLOA (certificate of land ownership award) and installation of the ARBs once the OP affirms the decision of the DAR Secretary or concerned regional director and denies any motion for reconsideration of its decision,” he added.
Castriciones emphasized, however, that the process could only be stalled with the issuance by the Supreme Court of a temporary restraining order or a final judgment of either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals.
The DAR chief said the process will proceed regardless of the filing of applications for conversion or pending the resolution of similar applications, except on specific provisions pertaining to land use conversion.