DAR holds consultations on IRR of agrarian emancipation law

The Department of Agrarian Reform on Monday said it held public consultations with stakeholders on 1 September 2023 to obtain inputs on the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act or Republic Act No. 11953.

The committee tasked by DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella to draft the IRR is chaired by DAR Undersecretary Napoleon Galit with DAR Undersecretaries Luis Pangulayan and Marilyn Barua-Yap, LBP EVP Alex Lorayes, Administrator Gerardo Serios and NIA Administrator Eddie Guillen as members.

Representatives of agrarian reform beneficiaries from all 15 regions including the BARMM, as well as farmers groups and civil society organizations, participated in the public consultations.

Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Kazel C. Celeste led the Luzon leg held at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City. Undersecretary for Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Jesry T. Palmares led the Visayas leg in Passi City, Iloilo, while Undersecretary for Mindanao Affairs, Amihilda J. Sangcopan led the Mindanao leg held at the World Palace Hotel in Ecoland, Davao City.

The ARBs and farmers' groups raised clarificatory questions on the coverage of the NAEA and the process of obtaining condonation and the termination of payment of just compensation to landowners. The summary of discussions will be submitted to the IRR drafting committee for inclusion in the draft IRR, which will be finalized during the full committee meeting with DAR Secretary Estrella on 7 September 2023.

The NAEA was passed by Congress from among the 22 priority bills of the administration barely a year after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., signed Executive Order No. 4, Series of 2022, imposing a one-year moratorium on the payment of amortizations by agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Estrella cited the efforts of DAR Undersecretaries Marilyn B. Barua-Yap and Luis Meinrado C. Pangulayan, who participated at every step of the legislative process to ensure that the law that gives farmers freedom from their agrarian debt was passed by Congress.

Estrella also commended the contributions of DAR's partner agencies, namely the Land Bank of the Philippines represented by LBP Executive Vice President Engr. Alex A. Lorayes and Vice President Atty. Marife Lynn O. Pacua, the Land Registration Authority led by Administrator Atty Gerardo P. Serios, and the National Irrigation Administration led by Administrator Eddie Guillen.