By: Charie Abarca – @inquirerdotnet INQUIRER.net
March 04, 2024

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday raised the need to address alleged patterns of agrarian reform reversals and land reconsolidation that have affected Filipino farmers previously issued Certificate of Land Ownership Awards.

In a privilege speech delivered during Monday’s plenary session, Hontiveros said her office has received “alarming reports” from people’s organizations on the ground of what appears to be “a pattern of agrarian reform reversals and land reconsolidation.”

“Isang halimbawa itong kaso sa Pampanga, sa Barangay Anunas at Cuayan, 1998 at 1999 pa lang, panahon nina dating Presidente Ramos at dating Presidente Estrada noong nabigay ang kanilang mga Certificate of Land Ownership Award o CLOA. Sa mahabang panahon, maagap na nagbabayad ang mga magsasaka hanggang sa na fully paid po nila, at ang katibayan nito ay ang Certificate of Full Payment and Release of Estate Mortgage na issued po ng Land Bank of the Philippines,” said Hontiveros.

(An example of this case transpired in Pampanga, in Barangay Anunas and Cuayan. It was only 1998 and 1999, the time of former President Fidel Ramos and former President Joseph Estrada when their CLOA were given. For a long time, the farmers have been paying promptly until they are fully paid, and the proof of this is the Certificate of Full Payment and Release of Estate Mortgage issued by the Land Bank of the Philippines.)

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