DAR Basilan Sets to Implement SC Decision on Installation of ARBs in MCFARMCO

The Department of Agrarian Reform provincial office in Basilan is keenly set to install the agrarian reform beneficiaries of Maloong-Canal Farmer Agrarian Reform MultiPurpose Cooperative (MCFARMCO) this day (February 29, Monday) at 9:00 o’clock in the morning at BATCO Landholding, Barangay Maloong-Canal, Lamitan City, Basilan, following its triumph in a case over the landowners of the said cooperative in a Supreme Court decision rendered last September 23, 2013. MCFARMCO covers 153 hectares of agricultural area and is located in the coastal village of Malo-ong Canal of Lamitan City. It was formerly owned by Basilan Agricultural Corporation (BATCO) of the New family and was transferred to the farmer beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The Supreme Court has reversed the Court of Appeals decision in favor of the farmer beneficiaries and reinstated the order of the Department of Agrarian Reform to have these beneficiaries take physical possession of the landholding. A series of pre-installation meetings were organized by DARPO Basilan and held in Tabiawan, Isabela City with the beneficiaries and various stakeholders including the police and military in order to ensure a safe and peaceful installation of ARBs in MCFARMCO. It can be recalled in 1999, there was a failure in the installation of these farmer beneficiaries due to violent resistance from the landowner which resulted in a firefight between the latter’s private army and the police and government implementers on the other side. “The purpose of the series of pre-installation meetings and dialogues was to seek the appropriate assistance of the PNP/AFP in aiding the agency for the ARBs installation,” PARO Suwaib Ismael said. He further hailed the Supreme Court’s ruling as a victory on the part of the beneficiaries who waited 28 years for the full implementation of the CARP. Atty. Renato Magno, the concurrent Chief Legal of DAR-ARMM likewise emphasized the urgent implementation of the Supreme Court decision through the proper installation of the ARBs. Meanwhile, Col. Cirilo Thomas Donato, the Brigade representative, assured their support for the safe installation of the ARBs and further pledged in assisting the undertakings since accordingly the installation is a government concerted effort.