The Negros Occidental Provincial Agrarian Reform Office accomplished 61 percent, or 8,000 hectares of its mandated target of 13,000 hectares of land for its Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program coverage in 2007, PARO Teresita Depeñoso said yesterday.

She said the figures and details of the accomplishment of the province will be presented on Jan. 17-18 in Iloilo when all PARO's in Western Visayas meet for their regional assessment. The national assessment will be on January 29-31 in Manila .

Depeñoso said the performance of Negros Occidental exceeded its funded-target of 3,874 hectares, the total land coverage provided with funds by DAR under its Memorandum of Operating Expense.

She explained that, despite the minimal MOOE, the municipal agrarian reform officers in the province doubled their efforts to reach their mandated target.

From 54 percent in 2006, Negros Occidental improved to 65 percent in its universal CARP coverage target ore 11 percent improvement in 2007, Depeñoso said.

Aside from the performance of the MARO's, she attributed the improvements to the cooperation of the agrarian reform beneficiaries, landowners, local government units, farmers' groups, and other stakeholders in Negros Occidental.

The Hacienda Velez-Malaga case in Barangay Robles, La Castellana that was resolved towards the end of 2007 paved the way for the “softening of stance” among the landowners, Depeñoso said.

The case helped all stakeholders realize that conflicts can be resolved if we sit down together and discuss all possible options, she added.

She added that the survey initiated by Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon also helped DAR evaluate itself and the areas of implementation that need to be strengthened.

Although differences in the appreciation of facts are inevitable, Depeñoso said the paper presented by the provincial government opened avenues for the improvement of CARP implementation in the province.

With only 65 percent of the universal target reached as of 2007, Depeñoso said she personally believes that the extension of the program is necessary and crucial.

As new landowners, she said the ARBs need the assistance of DAR and the program can not be easily abandoned without tying the “loose ends” after the 20-year implementation.

Depeñoso also said that implementing CARP in Negros Occidental proved to be exciting as each case was unique and full of conflicts.*NAB

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