A land grant property of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Laguna has been identified by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) for possible coverage under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

DAR Secretary John Castriciones conducted last July 1 a dialogue with the officers and members of the Balatkahoy Farmers Association, Inc., to thresh out issues and problems related to the coverage of the UP Land Grant property at Barangay Alutay in Paete town. 

The department reported that Balatkahoy Farmers Association Inc., has a total of 200 members, 50 of whom are presently occupying some areas of the UP land grant, a government-owned land (GOL) that has been acquired by UP in 1964.

Castriciones noted the UP land grant property comprises a total of 3,356.0430 hectares of land located in Sitio Papatahan (now Sitio Balatkahoy), Brgy. San Antonio in the municipality of Kalayaan (Lots 1 and 2); and Sitios Pabuntoc, Papatahan, Tibag, Bangco in the municipality of Paete (Lots 3 and 8). 

"Maganda po ang naging resulta ng aming pakikipagpanayam sa mga magsasaka dito. Kasi po naramdaman ng mga magsasaka na miyembro ng Balatkahoy Farmers Association, Inc., ang pakikiramay ng DAR at dahil dinadala namin ang pamahalaan dito mismo sa lugar nila (Our discussion with farmers here has been wonderful. Because the farmers, who are members of the Balatkahoy Farmers Association, Inc., feel DAR's compassion and because we are bringing the government right to them)," the DAR chief said.

Castriciones also conducted an ocular inspection of the portion of the UP land grant property in Kalayaan, Laguna to assess not only how the DAR will distribute the property to the identified CARP farmer-beneficiaries but also how to develop housing in the area under the "Balik Probinsya" program.

"With the agreement with the National Housing Authority and coordination with the Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development, we are now surveying the area for a possible housing program for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs)," he said.

DAR and Department of Justice have earlier signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019, which directs all government agencies to identify all GOLs suitable for agriculture, for possible distribution to CARP farmer-beneficiaries.

Qualified beneficiaries are farmers, tillers or farmworkers who are landless or who own less than three hectares of agricultural lands.

Also included are Filipino citizens; residents of the barangay (or the municipality if there are not enough qualified beneficiaries in the barangay) where the landholding is located; at least 15 years of age at the time of identification, screening and selection of the farmer beneficiaries; and with willingness, aptitude, and ability to cultivate and make the land as productive as possible as provided under Section 22 of RA 6657, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.