MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has extended the suspension of operations of its adjudicating bodies amid the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) being enforced over Metro Manila and several parts of the country to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In compliance with the extension of the ECQ on “high-risk” areas until May 15, DAR Secretary John Castriciones issued Memorandum Circular No. 13 suspending the operations of the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) until the same day, the DAR said Friday in a news release.
DAR adjudicating offices in provinces and cities with low to moderate risk of coronavirus infection, as well as those outside quarantine zones, shall meanwhile continue providing services under their “new normal operation” under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and in compliance with COVID-19 health measures.
Castriciones said all mandatory mediation conferences and hearings scheduled between March 15 to May 15 by the DARAB in areas still under ECQ are “continually suspended and reset.”
“The reglementary period for the filing of pleadings, motions, position, and other relevant papers, as well as, for the rendition of judgment, motions, and orders is reset anew, to run starting on May 18, 2020, based on the actual balance as of March 15, 2020,” the DAR stated.
The sectorial deadline to resolve all pending 2019 received cases has also been moved from June 1 to June 30, as stated in the circular.
“This means all adjudicators, including those in quarantined areas, will continue drafting decisions, resolutions, and orders, be it at the office or at home,” Castriciones said.