[In the news] DAR beefs up Neg. Occ. forces to boost CARPer- www.visayandailystar.com

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Human Rights Online Philippines Leave a comment

DAR beefs up Neg. Occ. forces to boost CARPer
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The Department of Agrarian Reform yesterday installed a special director for Negros Occidental and two officials to head its southern and northern operations.

This is part of a move to boost the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program extension with reform (CARPer) law in Negros Occidental that is now facing a huge distribution backlog, DAR regional director Alexis Arsenal said.

Elmo Banares assumed the post of DAR special director for operations in Negros Occidental, Arsenal said.

Banares is tasked with ensuring that landowners who offered their land under the Voluntary Offer to Sell scheme of the DAR are paid and that the backlog in land distribution is addressed, Arsenal explained.

CARPer, which ends in 2014, has 130,000 has. more to cover in Negros Occidental, outgoing Negros Occidental OIC PARO II Felix Servidad said.

Under the new set-up, Arsenal will remain as DAR regional director for administrative and legal affairs in Negros Occidental, but turned over to Banares the regional director functions on land acquisition and distribution, and delivery of support services.

This only holds true in Negros Occidental, Arsenal is still the regional director for all other provinces in Region 6.

Servidad yesterday turned over all his responsibilities to incoming OIC PARO II Dr. Enrique Paderes for Negros Occidental North and to OIC PARO II Florentino Siladan for Negros Occidental South.

Servidad will head the Antique Provincial Agrarian Reform Office, vacated by Siladan.

This is by virtue of DAR Special Order No. 549, Series of 2011, dated November signed by Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes, on the creation of two administrative provincial offices for Negros Occidental.

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