The Department of Agrarian Reform started yesterday its five-day inventory of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Hacienda. Velez-Malaga, Brgy. Robles, La Castellana.

Of the 141 registered beneficiaries, PARO Teresita Depeñoso said only 41 ARBs, identified with the Task Force Mapalad group, attended the activity.

Those who did not attend belong to the “pro-administration” or members of the Hacienda Malaga-Cuenca Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Depeñoso said.

She added that a police assistance center was set up in the area to ensure the peaceful conduct of the farmers’ inventory.

Depeñoso added that the carding or inventory of the ARBs is necessary for the issuance of IDs as stated in the Memorandum Circular issued by the DAR Central Office.

It is being conducted to evaluate the status of the ARBs and to properly identify them whenever they transact business in national government agencies, Depeñoso said.

“We need to account for all the ARBs to know if they are still out there, cultivating the lands given to them,” she said.

Those who failed to register with the DAR team, however, can still submit themselves for an interview and process their IDs with their Municipal Agrarian Reform Office, Depeñoso said.

“We are not leaving out those who failed to submit themselves for the ARB carding,” said.

She also expressed hope that the orientation and inventory of the ARBs in Hacienda Velez-Malaga will be a step towards the resolution of the land distribution conflict in the area.

Depeñoso said she coordinated with the office of Mayor Alberto Nicor Jr. before the DAR team started their activity in the area.

Officials of the barangay, were also informed and some of them even attended the orientation she said.*NAB

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