DAR, DENR signs agreement to transfer 1,153 hectares SIPLAS property for coverage under 1CARP through EO 75
SURIGAO
CITY, Surigao del Norte, May 30 (PIA) -- The Department of Agrarian Reform
(DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently
signed a deed of transfer to enable the coverage of a portion of the Siargao
Island Protected Landscape and Seascape (SIPLAS) area in Siargao, Surigao Del
Norte under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by virtue of
Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019.
DENR
Executive Director Nonito M. Tamayo and Regional Director Leomides R. Villareal
led the signing of the Deed of Transfer.
DAR-Caraga
Regional Director Leomides R. Villareal said that based on the review and
findings of the DAR validation committee, some portion of the SIPLAS are
considered alienable and disposable (A & D) agricultural government-owned
land (GOL) under the DENR and are no longer utilized for its purpose, and
therefore, can be covered under the CARP, through EO 75, subject to final
delineation and precise survey.
"Today
I’m going to receive formally the deed of transfer containing an aggregate area
of 1,153.3644 hectares of land in the municipalities of Del Carmen, General
Luna, Pilar, San Isidro, Burgos, and Socorro,” Villareal said.
The
Siargao Island Protected Landscape and Seascape is the largest marine protected
area in the Philippines.
On October 10, 1996, the terrestrial, wetland, and marine areas of Siargao and
its surrounding islets in the northeastern part of Mindanao, province of
Surigao del Norte are declared as a protected area under the category of
protected landscape and seascape, through the Proclamation No. 902, by the
President of the Philippines.
SIPLAS
contains an approximate area of 278,914.131 hectares as a protected landscape
and seascape.
Executive Order No. 75, series of 2019 was signed by President Rodrigo R.
Duterte directing all government instrumentalities to identify idle lands owned
by the government suitable for agricultural purposes which will be distributed
to qualified beneficiaries of CARP.r
Once
transfer is complete, DAR will proceed with the process of land acquisition and
distribution.
Qualified
beneficiaries are farmers, tillers, or farmworkers who are landless or who own
less than three hectares of agricultural lands; 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
Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), as amended.
(DAR- Surigao del Norte/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
