DAR holds nationwide public consultations on IRR of New Agrarian Emancipation Act
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) held simultaneous public consultations with its stakeholders on September 1, 2023 to obtain inputs on the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act (NAEA) or Republic Act No. 11953.
The Committee tasked by DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrela 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 Aministrator Eddie Guillen as members.
Representatives of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from all fifteen (15) regions including the BARMM and concerned farmers’ groups and civil society organizations likewise participated in the public consultations.
Undersecretary for Field Operations Atty. Kazel C. Celeste led the Luzon leg which was 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 at the World Palace Hotel in Ecoland, Davao City.
The ARBs and farmers’ groups raised clarifications on the coverage of the New Agrarian Emancipation Act and the process of obtaining condonation and the termination of payment of just compensation to landowners.
The summary of the 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 September 7, 2023.
At the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City, ARBs Arlene Perez of Bulacan, Librado Caliong of Pampanga, Joel Domingo of Tarlac, Saturnino Distur of Pangasinan, Gaudencio Batin of Candon City and Nathan Sendan, among many other ARBs took turns expressing gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Secretary Estrella for the NAEA and are looking forward to its smooth and swift implementation.
The journey of the NAEA started barely a year ago when President Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 4, Series of 2022, imposing a one-year moratorium on the payment of amortizations by ARBs.
Estrella cited the efforts of DAR Undersecretaries Marilyn B. Barua-Yap and Luis Meinrado C. Pangulayan, who participated in every step of the legislative process to ensure that the marching orders of the President to pass a law that ensures freedom of farmers from their agrarian debt is 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.
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