The Department of Agrarian Reform office in Negros Occidental will need 50 more personnel to accomplish its 90,000 hectares target in the next six years under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, PARO Teresita Depeñoso said yesterday in a meeting with DAR Assistant Secretary Dominador Andres.

Depeñoso said the request for additional manpower was made on the presumption that the program will be extended for at least six years.

Andres told her that he will refer the request to the central office for approval, but Depeñoso has to submit immediately a project proposal that will contain her target accomplishment and her proposed strategies.

The DAR officials also had a dialog with members of the Task Force Mapalad to discuss their demands in relation to the CARP implementation in Negros Occidental.

TFM proposed that DAR revise its policy in issuing notice of coverage to landowner to fast-track program implementation.

TFM proposed that, after mailing the notice, DAR immediately proceed with the publication, TFM national coordinator Lani Factor said.

TFM-Negros president Rodito Angeles said most MARO's have difficulties in serving the notices to landowners who usually refused to receive them.

Andres said MARO should immediately report to the PARO the status of every notice served to landowners so that the procedure of land acquisition and distribution is fast-tracked.

He said he will refer TFM's request to revise DAR's policy in issuing notice of coverage to landowners to the central office.

TFM members from different haciendas in the province gathered yesterday in front of DAR to reiterate their demand for CARP extension and government action on pending land acquisition and distribution cases.

The farmers called on Congress and the government to enact a law extending CARP beyond 2008 and ensuring provisions for resolution of pending cases.

The group noted that among all provinces in the country, Negros Occidental has the highest land acquisition and distribution backlog of about 180,000 hectares of private agricultural lands.*NAB

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