Hundreds of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Kabankalan City yesterday kicked off their three-day protest against the massive land conversions of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-covered estates from agricultural to other uses in the city.

The group, called KABBAKOD, who are camping out in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Kabankalan, said in a statement that the conversions were a result of the land reclassification ordinance enacted in 1996.

Spokesperson Greg Ratin said the land reclassification and land conversion were legal loopholes of CARP that become convenient excuses of the big landlord to evade land reform or retake the covered landholdings.

The group said more than 3,055 hectares were reclassified, 1,964 of which were already CARP-covered, affecting more than 600 land reform beneficiaries. They claim that these include big landholdings owned by former congresswoman Hortencia Starke and by former Mayor Julieta Salgado.

They accused big landowners of conniving with local government and DAR officials in blocking the coverage of more lands in Kabankalan and in stopping the processing of covered estates.

KABBAKOD said in its statement that this is a real picture to prove that CARP is a failure, both in land distribution and in its objective of ending the monopoly of land and wealth.

The DAR recently issued a memorandum ordering a moratorium on land conversions.

The municipal agrarian reform officer of Kabankalan could not be reached for comment as of press time yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Task Force Mapalad also accused the DAR and the Land Bank of the Philippines of conniving to exempt Hacienda Bacan in Brgy. Guintubhan, Isabela, allegedly owned by the family of First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, from CARP coverage.

A group of Negros farmers petitioned for distribution of the land in a rally in front of Malacañang yesterday.

TFM president Jose Rodito Angeles said that during their meeting with DAR officials Monday, they were told that the Land Bank is asking for the issuance of another notice of coverage for the 157-hectare hacienda, among other requirements, before it would accept the landowners claim folder for valuation of the property.

Angeles also said it is unbelievable because DAR had issued three notices of CARP coverage in the past.*NLG

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